Furlong And Shipperley Strike To Send Wales Into World League Semis

Wales 3 Italy 0

Gareth Furlong and Rupert Shipperley fired Wales to victory in the Hockey World League Rd 2 quarter-final against Italy in Belfast.

Surbiton defender Furlong struck twice in the first-half before Shipperley, of Hampstead&Westminster, sealed the win.

Coach Zak Jones’ side dominated the game to book their place in Saturday’s semi-final round.

Wales, ranked one place above the Italians at 34th in the world, broke the deadlock just before the end of the first quarter through Furlong.

And Furlong doubled the lead on 21 minutes to give his side a vital two goal cushion at half-time.

Shipperley, whose goal had sealed the win over Poland in the pool stage, made sure of this quarter-final clash after netting on 43 minutes.

Cardiff & Met’s James Kyriakides came close to marking his 50th appearance for his country with a goal while Ben Francis was also denied.

When Italy did threaten, they were thwarted by keeper David Kettle who also plays for Hampstead & Westminster.

Wales had finished second in their pool after wins over Poland and then Scotland in a penalty shoot-out before a narrow defeat to France.