London 2012

LONDON, July 31- Two goals from Kim Lammers helped Netherlands beat Japan 3-2 in a women's Pool A match at the Riverbank Arena on Tuesday.

Netherlands started strongly and Lammers had two early chances to put them ahead before converting her third attempt in the fourth minute. Good work on the righthand sideline by Kitty van Male saw her get to the backline and pull the ball back for Lammers, who made no mistake from close range.

LONDON, 31 July - Argentina will look to build on their record-equalling start at the London 2012 Olympic Games women's hockey tournament, but they face a difficult match against Pan American rivals USA when the second round pool matches begin at the Riverbank Arena on Tuesday.

In news from the first day of the men's hockey, Spain's influential skipper Santi Frexia is out of the tournament with a broken arm.

Florian Fuchs: (Right) in action during the test event, against GB's Ali Wilson, in May - Andy SmithLONDON, 30 July - Germany began the defence of their Olympic title with a difficult 2-1 win over Belgium in their opening Pool B match at the Riverbank Arena on Monday.

Aiming for their first Olympic win against Germany, Belgium started the match brightly, controlling possession and pressuring the Germany defence. The bright start worked as a third-minute penalty corner was converted by Jerome Dekeyser. He drilled a low shot past Germany goalkeeper Max Weinhold to give Belgium an ideal start.

Celebration: Richard Smith - hockeyimages.co.ukGreat Britain made a confident start to their men's hockey London Olympic Games campaign with a 4-1 win over ninth-ranked Argentina.

The home side led by a solitary goal, a penalty corner rebound from skipper Barry Middleton after 22 minutes.

But they had created a hatful of first-half chances and the opportunites continued to open up in the second period with Middleton striking a hard reverse-stick shot through the legs of the otherwise excellent Juan Manuel Vivaldi in the Argentina goal after 42 minutes.

Goalscorer: Roderick Weusthof - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, 30 July - Netherlands survived a scare in their opening London 2012 pool match to beat India 3-2 at the Riverbank Arena on Monday,

The opening minutes of the match were frenetic but evenly-matched. 

Teun de Nooijer (NED), playing in a record-equalling fifth Olympic Games, was twice denied by India goalkeeper Bharat Chetri in the space of three minutes, once from a powerful volley which went just wide of the left post off Chetri's pad, the second a close-range deflection.

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Save: Francisco Cortes was in fine form in Spain's 1-1 draw with Pakistan - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, 30 July - Spain and Pakistan drew 1-1 in their opening men's hockey pool match at the Riverbank Arena on Monday, but the result came with bad news for Spain as captain Santiago Frexia injured his left wrist.

He was involved in a collision with Muhammad Irfan towards the end of the first half, received treatment on the sideline and left the field at half-time with his wrist on ice. He returned for periods of the second half with his wrist heavily bandaged, but was very limited in his movement.

Broken jaw: GB skipper Kate Walsh (left) has had surgery but may continue at the London 2012 Olympic Games - pic Andy SmithGreat Britain women’s hockey captain Kate Walsh has had surgery on a fractured jaw received in the closing minutes of GB's 4-0 win over Japan on Sunday night.

The 32-year-old has had a plate inserted into her jaw to stabilise the fracture.

A statement from Team GB reads: "Her recovery from the operation will be monitored and her ongoing participation in the Olympic Games will be reviewed following her return to the athletes’ village.