England player battling for the ball against Jamaica

England progressed to the next stage of the 2022 World Lacrosse U21 Men’s World Championship after defeating Jamaica 10-2 in today’s game.

Josh Simpson-Pink hit a hat-trick while Hugo Peel scored his fourth of a very impressive tournament so far as England kept their hopes of finishing fifth alive.

After yesterday’s difficult defeat to the Haudenosaunee in the quarter-final, England struggled to get going in the first quarter but found themselves ahead with just over 11 minutes gone when Ed Loveland worked himself into a good position and scored from a slight angle.

Jamaica managed to put themselves level when Stone Evans scored minutes before the quarter break after he spun an England defender and squeezed his shot past the arm of Jack Allen in goal.

And just as England looked to push for a second, Jamaica scored once again as Joshua McLaughlin shot on the turn to put the score at 2-1.

After going in front, Jamaica truly found their feet and caused England some problems, forcing some outstanding saves out of Allen.

But just as England were looking for someone to inspire them, up stepped Peel who hammered home to put his team level once again!

As the game entered its third quarter, England were starting to find their feet and they went ahead through Simpson-Pink whose shot from 10 yards out sailed past the goalie.

It was truly England’s game to go and win now and, shortly after Peel rattled one off the post, Simpson-Pink had his second of the day with eight and a half minutes gone in the third; this was followed up quickly when Will Goodwin hit one in from just outside the crease.

With five minutes to go in the quarter, England scored their sixth when Nathan Wilkinson got his name on the scoresheet with a veritable screamer from distance before Simpson-Pink completed his hat-trick with a lovely high to low shot past the Jamaica goalie.

Early in the fourth Elliott Bickerton was forced off the field after slipping and seemingly injuring his knee but this didn’t stop England who continued to push for more goals.

Danny Hilditch followed up his brace in the quarter-final with a brilliant goal after one minute and seven seconds of the quarter and then Goodwin grabbed his second of the game when he pulled off a nice jump shot from close range.

Drew Bickerton also wanted to get in on the act in the final moments and first had a hard hit shot saved well by the Jamaica goalie before scoring with a dive across the crease to put the game to bed.

All eyes now turn to tomorrow when England will play Puerto Rico at 6.30pm BST with a spot in the fifth place game on Saturday afternoon up for grabs.

England Points: Drew Bickerton (1G), Will Goodwin (2G), Danny Hilditch (1G 1A), Ed Loveland (1G), Hugo Peel (1G)

Friday 19 August Schedule (times BST)