Great Britain battled hard against World Cup-bound New Zealand before registering a 5-3 victory to end their adventure here in fifth place in the 11th Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
The Britons, who had failed to qualify for the Kuala Lumpur Junior World Cup next month after finishing sixth place in the European Junior championship, fell behind to a second minute Jordon Whittleston’s field goal. However, Great Britain equalized in the very next minute through Man of the Match award recipient Henry Markham.
There were no stopping Jon Bleby boys after the equalizer. The three-time SOJC champions (2015, 2018 and 2019) went on a goal spree by scoring four goals from the second to fourth quarters.
Forward Jonny Sturch Hibbitt netted the second goal (23rd) followed by Harrison Stone (33rd), Felix Tully (37th) while Henry scored a brace in the 54th minute. The Kiwis charged back late in the game to score two goals through Sam Lints penalty corner conversion and Jonty Elmes knocked home a field goal in the 58th minutes.
New Zealand is making its seventh appearance in the Sultan of Johor Cup and once again failed to make the podium. Their best finish in the tournament was fourth place achieved in 2014.