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Team Bath Buccs' Liam Sanford makes historic debut as England Hockey win in South Africa

Liam Sanford became the first-ever current Team Bath Buccaneers men’s player to represent England Hockey at senior level as he helped his country to a 5-2 win over South Africa in Cape Town.

The talented full-back from Melksham, who has been selected for England’s Lottery-funded central programme after impressing in trials, made his debut from the bench during Thursday’s impressive victory.

University of Bath Sports Performance student Peter Scott, supported by a Trendell Sports Scholarship, was also in the squad for England’s opening match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle.

National coach Bobby Crutchley, a University of Bath Hall of Fame for Sport inductee and former Team Bath Buccaneers Head Coach, said: "We’re very pleased with the win and the team put in some excellent spells in the game.

“Unsurprisingly we were a little inconsistent, the group are learning about international hockey, but it was nice to pick up a victory.”

England will play South Africa again and face Germany twice during the week-long tour, which is a key part of their preparations for this summer’s Hockey World League Semi-Final in London.

Find out more about the hockey programme at the University of Bath by visiting www.teambath.com/hockey.