Great Britain thrash Kiwis to reach Four Nations final

DOUBLES apiece from Ashley Jackson and James Tindall saw Great Britain thump New Zealand and book a place in the International Men's Four Nations Tournament final with Germany.

PRIMED: Great Britain’s Ashley Jackson lines up for a penalty corner between Simon Mantell (centre, background) and James Tindall (foreground) (Ady Kerry/GB Hockey)

Jackson netted his 12th and 13th goals for Great Britain while Tindall returned to Jason Lee's line-up, having missed Wednesday's defeat to Germany, to net twice. Another from Simon Mantell saw the hosts run out 5-1 winners in Nottingham.

Great Britain will now face a rematch with Olympic champions Germany for the top prize on Saturday - and assistant coach Bobby Crutchley had no complaints.

He said: "We did a lot of good stuff today.  We're slightly inconsistent at the moment but apart from the first 20 minutes we played some good hockey and scored some good goals."

 It was New Zealand who made the early running and goalkeeper Nick Brothers had to be aware to deny Hugo Inglis while Nick Wilson also went close for the visitors.

Home fans breathed a sigh of relieve when Mantell flicked in the opener from an acute angle on 17 minutes and just five minutes later, Tindall had his first, firing home from a penalty corner after Jackson had dummied.

World Player of the Year Jackson then got his name on the scoresheet himself shortly before half-time, thumping home an unstoppable penalty corner.

New Zealand then troubled the scorers for the first time with Alastair Wilson and Jackson both shown yellow cards, leaving Great Britani down to nine men.

Marcus Child capitalised with a scrappy goal but Great Britain's three-goal lead was restored soon enough when Jackson slammed home a penalty stroke, having returned to the action.

And Tindall completed the rout, coolly wrong-footing the New Zealand goalkeeper before slotting home.