Host country Hong Kong learned a lesson at the U20 Women’s Lacrosse World Championship when it was soundly beaten by England on Saturday.

But Gemini head coach Fan Tak-kwan insisted the city’s aim of improving on the results from the last edition was still “on track” despite being beaten 18-1 by world No. 4, the team that finished fourth in 2019.

The home team’s goalkeepers Liu Yutong and Sophie Chan combined to save ten of the 28 shots fired at them and Fan rated her team’s performance against one of the leading teams as “OK”.

“The game was tough from the start,” she said. “The score difference seems big, but we tried to attack and did really well in defense as well.”

The next fixture of the 12th-ranked team, who were thrashed by Jamaica in their first match on Thursday, was postponed to an earlier date and across town to the Hong Kong Football Club after torrential rain fell at the Sham Shui Po Sports Ground.

The class difference did not bother the Hong Kongers and midfielder Anbie Chan, who studies at the University of Hong Kong, scored the first goal in the third minute.

But England turned the game around: Captain Rachael Ball was the top scorer with four goals, Annie Mather and Freya Moody each contributed three goals and five other players also scored.

Later Saturday, the United States faced Puerto Rico while China faced Germany.

More to follow…