After seeing off defending champions Australia, 3-1, on Saturday, England were in scintillating form again yesterday as they tore through Pakistan, winning 8-2, in the FIH Champions Trophy game, in India.

The damage was done across 11 minutes of play as Mark Gleghorne, Nick Catlin, David Condon, Barry Middleton and Ashley Jackson converted chances to take their team into the break five goals up, in the Pool A encounter.

Head coach Bobby Crutchley’s side showed no signs of letting their foot off the gas in the second half as Sam Ward, Alastair Brogdon and Chris Griffiths added their names to the scoresheet.

Pakistan did pull two goals back in the closing stages, but the game was already over and the result leaves England top of Pool A, two points clear of Belgium who drew 4-4 with Australia in the first match of the day.

Coach Bobby Crutchley, said: “We’re really pleased with the result and I thought we controlled the game, which is what we wanted to try and do. When our goals came it took the game away from them [Pakistan] and we were able to dominate possession and play the way we wanted.”

England’s next game is against Belgium on Tuesday and Crutchley added: “Tuesday will be a completely different challenge; they play a very different style of hockey to Pakistan.

“We have played each other fairly regularly over the last couple of years so we know each other well and what each side is capable of and we know how strong they are.

“For us, it’s about continuing to build our performances across the week so we are in our best form for the knock out stages and the business end of the tournament.”

Former Ipswich School pupil George Pinner, England’s first-choice goalkeeper, was rested for the game against Pakistan, having played in Saturday’s victory over Australia.

Two goals from the aforementioned Ward, on his England debut, and another from Alastair Brogdon helped Crutchley’s side to a superb win.

It was a solid team performance from England who were two goals up at the break and although Chris Ciriello pulled one back with six minutes still on the clock, Ward’s second just two minutes later made the game safe.

“I’m obviously very pleased with the win, there were periods of the game where we played some fantastic hockey,” added Crutchley.

“Having said that, at other times we switched off and let Australia come back at us which we can’t afford to do against teams of this quality.

“I will be hoping as the tournament progresses that we can eradicate the poor periods, concentrate a little more and not allow the opposition to dominate parts of the game like Australia did today.”