Tom Boon’s hat-trick saw his Belgian side coming back from two goals down to beat Argentina on the opening day of FIH Hockey Pro League action in Rourkela, India on Tuesday.
And over in Valencia, a hat-trick from Spain’s Patricia Alvarez put paid to any hopes of Germany securing their first Pro League win of the season on a day when six matches were played at four venues across three continents.
(Men’s) Australia 3 – 2 Pakistan
A thrilling showdown between Australia and Pakistan kicked off the Tasmanian leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League, with the home side just edging a 3-2 win in the dying minutes.
The match started at a furious pace with Australia earning a penalty corner within the first 30 seconds. They didn’t capitalise on that one (or the eight that came after it) but Tim Brand put them in front just two minutes later by drilling it in from the top of the circle. Brand then doubled the lead after a pass from Davis Atkins found him in plenty of space, and he blasted in another long-range shot in the 19th minute. Pakistan looked dangerous on the counterattack but weren’t able to capitalise and their brave penalty corner defence kept them in the mix.
The second half was all about Pakistan playing themselves back into contention. A goalmouth scramble resulted in Ahmed Nadeem’s shot trickling under the keeper and into goal to make it 2-1 in the 49th minute. And Sufyan Khan’s drag off Pakistan’s second penalty corner of the match saw them drawing level four minutes later. Chasing a first FIH Hockey Pro League win, they piled on more pressure in the closing minutes but then conceded a stroke at the other end, which Blake Govers buried in the bottom right of goal to edge his side 3-2 in front in the 58th minute. Pakistan had one last chance to provide a twist in the tale when they were awarded another penalty corner with two seconds left on the clock, but the decision was overturned on review and the Australians held on for the win.
Australia’s Tim Howard was named player of the match and said: “It's the start of a big year for all international teams… it's really important to get off on the right mark. Tough game, so it was really nice for the boys.”
(Men’s) Spain 2 – 4 England
England survived a strong fightback to prevail 4-2 over Spain in Valencia.
The English struck early when Jacob Payton placed himself in the perfect spot to tap in from a penalty corner variation in the fourth minute of the match. They then doubled that lead with a 26th-minute drag from Sam Ward off another penalty corner. The Spanish finally pulled one back with a great run down the right from Xavier Gispert, whose diagonal pass found a running José Basterra in front of goal to help it over the line, taking his side into the half-time break just one goal down on 2-1.
An action-packed third quarter saw a Spanish penalty stroke saved by Ollie Payne before Basterra made amends a few minutes later off a penalty corner rebound to complete his brace. Just three and a half minutes later Stuart Rushmere put the English back in front after a baseline pass to him on the p-spot. There was more to come in the final quarter when England kept out a Spanish penalty corner in the final two minutes before going on the counterattack, with Ward then blasting in a reverse stick strike to seal the 4-2 win for the English.
England’s Sam Ward was named player of the match and said: “We came here to get as many points as possible. We took 10 out of 12, we're over the moon with that, and yeah, we just go back to Bisham, work hard, and just keep on building.”
(Women’s) Ireland 0 – 5 Argentina
Maria Ortiz celebrated her 100th cap for Argentina in an emphatic 5-0 victory over Ireland.
After a goalless first quarter, Argentina struck the first blow within the opening minute of the second quarter thanks to Agustina Gorzelany’s low flick off a penalty corner. The pressure kept coming from Las Leonas and Ireland’s failure to clear the ball from numerous attempts on goal culminated in the ball bouncing across to Brisa Bruggesser, whose slight mishit had enough on it to see the ball safely into goal in the 19th minute. That handed Argentina a 2-0 lead, which they took into half time.
Ireland continued to struggle to keep up with the pace and the Argentinians made it 3-0 in the third quarter when a run up the left channel saw Julieta Jankunas finishing with a reverse-stick strike in the 35th minute. They struck their fourth in the final minute of the period when Gorzelany’s penalty corner shot was met by a diving Maria Granatto, her faintest touch beating the Irish keeper. Argentina’s fifth was an outrageous one. Sofia Toccalino’s pass found a diving Lara Casas this time, who controlled brilliantly from the turf, and then lifted the ball into the net to seal a 5-0 win.
Agustina Gorzelany was named player of the match for Argentina and said: “I'm thrilled. I think the team did a great job. We did exactly what we were meant to do, so I'm very happy for what we did today and really excited for what's coming next.”
(Women’s) Spain 3 – 1 Germany
A strong second half featuring a hat-trick from Patricia Alvarez saw the Spanish women wrapping up their home leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League with a solid 3-1 win over Germany.
After a goalless first quarter with just a couple of chances at either end, it was Germany who made the breakthrough in the second quarter when they created some space on the counterattack. A good run into the circle from Jette Fleschutz ended with her firing in the tomahawk for the 1-0 lead, which they held on to until the half-time break.
There were more chances for both sides in the third quarter, but the Spanish enjoyed more of the possession. They found the equaliser when Lucia Jimenez threaded the ball through to Patricia Alvarez in the circle, whose deflection made it 1-1 in the 37th minute. She was back in action five minutes later to tap in a second from a goalmouth scramble. Alvarez then completed her hat-trick in the final quarter when a mis-trap from a teammate meant the ball squirted to her in the circle, where her first-touch strike found the back of the net to wrap up a memorable 3-1 win.
Patricia Alvarez was named player of the match for Spain and said: “I’m very happy for the team, for the new players who played the game, the staff, and the stay in Valencia… The team improved every day.”
(Women’s) China 0 – 2 England
Having squandered a two-goal lead in their previous encounter against China, England’s women did well to hold on for their 2-0 win.
The English drew first blood off their first penalty corner of the match in the opening quarter when Grace Balsdon dragged the ball into the left corner of goal in the eighth minute. They continued to enjoy the upper hand and took that lead into the first break. The Chinese then showed greater attacking intent in the second quarter but the actual scoring opportunities were limited at both ends.
There was a chance for the Chinese to equalise when they were awarded a penalty corner with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. But Miriam Pritchard did exceptionally well to keep out the initial shot and several rebound attempts, along with another flash at goal less than a minute later. She fended off a flurry of additional shots on goal in the final moments of the period to keep her team in front. The home side piled on more pressure in the final quarter, but it was England who found their second goal against the run of play when Tessa Howard’s strike in the 51st minute was deflected in by the keeper’s kicker. China took off their keeper with eight minutes remaining to try and chase a result, but the English held on for the 2-0 win.
England goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard was named player of the match and said: “We’re delighted with the three points. China are Olympic silver medallists and put a real fight out today. But I’m just so proud of my team. We’ve been building all Pro League and the work they put in in front of me makes my saves easier. So, this one’s for the team.”
(Men’s) Belgium 5 – 3 Argentina
The opening match of the Rourkela leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League produced an eight-goal thriller with Tom Boon’s hat-trick giving Belgium the edge over Argentina.
The Argentinians raced into an early lead thanks to Tomas Domene’s drag. That lead was then doubled by Nicolas Della Torre’s drag in the ninth minute, which caught the postman’s stick on the way through. Belgium then pulled one back with just one second left on the clock in the first quarter when Boon received an excellent pass in the circle, lifted it over the keeper’s head and tapped it down into the net. Argentina went further in front with another penalty corner in the 24th minute, the prolific Domene’s drag deflecting off a defender and the inside of the keeper’s pads. But, just as he had done at the end of the previous quarter, Boon brought the Belgians back with seconds left on the clock, this time with a penalty corner rocket to the keeper’s right.
A beautiful strike into the turf off a rebound off the keeper saw Guillaume Hellin finding the equaliser for Belgium early in the third quarter, which then produced no further goals. That meant there was all to play for in the final period. The Belgians were awarded a penalty stroke with just seven minutes remaining, which Alexander Hendrickx plugged into the left corner of goal to edge his team in front. Boon then completed his hat-trick, off another penalty stroke, wrapping up a 5-3 win for the Belgians with three minutes remaining.
Belgium’s Tom Boon was named player of the match and said: “I’m very happy, I’m really proud as well. I think we started really poorly, but we managed to come back in the game and at the end we won 5-3. So, we made a really big step towards being a better team, so it’s really nice.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (8 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (7 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 10 February 2026
Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart (AUS)
Men
Result: Match 19 (M)
Australia 3 - 2 Pakistan
Player of the match: Tim Howard (AUS)
Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL), Benjamin Peters (USA), Bruce Bale (ENG-video)
Women
Result: Match 25 (W)
Ireland 0 - 5 Argentina
Player of the match: Agustina Gorzelany (ARG)
Umpires: Katrina Turner (NZL), Magali Sergeant (BEL), Rama Potnis (IND-video)
Estadio Betero, Valencia (ESP)
Men
Result: Match 18 (M)
Spain 2 - 4 England
Player of the match: Sam Ward (ENG)
Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Sarah Wilson (SCO), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY-video)
Women
Result: Match 23 (W)
Spain 3 - 1 Germany
Player of the match: Patricia Alvarez (ESP)
Umpires: Victoria Pazos (PAR), Allison Mikelson (USA), Alex Miles (CAN-video)
Yunfu Education Park Hockey Field (CHN)
Women
Result: Match 24 (W)
China 0 - 2 England
Player of the match: Miriam Pritchard (ENG)
Umpires: Kelly Hudson (NZL), Ana Ortega (ESP), Deepak Joshi (IND-video)
Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela (IND)
Men
Result: Match 20 (M)
Belgium 5 - 3 Argentina
Player of the match: Tom Boon (BEL)
Umpires: Sean Edwards (ENG), Kristy Robertson (AUS), Tim Meissner (GER-video)
