A third quarter blitz from Australia ended England’s medal hopes at the Men’s World Championship going down 5-10 in the quarter-final match up.
Australia scored six unanswered goals in an, up-to-then, even contest to blow out the game and take the semi-final berth.
England had matched their opponents in a tense and edgy first-half but couldn’t recover after the Aussie streak and will now face Japan in a final game playoff for 5th place.
In a rematch of England’s opening fixture, it was a contest against Australia that stood in the way of a spot in the final four.
As expected, the game got off to a cautious start with both teams aiming to hold on to the ball for long possessions, drawing multiple stall warnings as each side looked for the perfect scoring opportunity.
Goals were traded in the opening 15 minutes, first Lucas Quintiao for Australia and then Tim Collins responded with a clever drive to goal from behind.
There was only a solitary score in Q2 as Australia took a slender lead through Matt Heuston, although England had plenty of opportunities themselves, Drew Bickerton coming the closest but his rapid shot crashed against the crossbar.
Both ‘keepers were also in fine form, William Baxter and opposing number Sean Aaron both making five saves in the first half to dominate the proceedings up until the break.
However, it was in the third quarter where the match was ripped open by Australia.
Brayden Panting scored on a man-up play at the start of the quarter and the Australian dominance continued from there.
Panting himself got a hat-trick while three other Aussies found the back of the net as England struggled to gain possession and were unable to stem the tide from the other side.
At 8-1 at the ¾ time, England came out with nothing to lose for the final quarter and demonstrated what their attack is capable of.
Hugo Peel, Danny Hilditch, and Bickerton all found the back of the net – the first two bagging their first goals of the championship – but scores from Thomas Graham and Lachlan Walker always kept the Aussies out of reach.
Sean Goldsmith rounded off the game, scoring in his fifth of six matches but ultimately England fell short and now have to refocus for Friday’s final placement game.
England will take on Japan (7pm PDT/3am BST), as they did back in 2018, in the 5th place playoff after the previously undefeated Japanese side lost 10-5 to Haudenosaunee.
Box Score: England – Australia (1-1; 1-2; 1-8; 5-10)
England Scorers: Danny Hilditch (1G 1A), Drew Bickerton (1G), Tim Collins (1G), Sean Goldsmith (1G), Hugo Peel (1G), Dan Watson (1A)
Australia Scorers: Brayden Panting (3G), Lachlan Walker (2G 1A), Matt Heuston (2G), Mitchell Baker (1G 1A), Thomas Graham (1G), Lucas Quintiao (1G), Matt Wood (1A)