CWG England Hockey: England 1 - 1 Canada

Mantell brothers angry at no video referall system in Delhi

England Hockey star siblings Richard and Simon Mantell were left ruing the absence of video technology at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after only drawing 1-1 with Canada.

The video referall system has been used at all major tournaments since 2006 but due to a mix up with organisers and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) it has been unable to be sorted out in another embarrassing mess up for Delhi 2010 organisers. And now the Mantell brothers feel Canada’s goal, accredited to Canadian forward Ian Smythe, would have been chalked off.

A fuming Richard, who confronted umpire William Drury as soon as the goal was allowed, said: “It was particularly frustrating with some of the decisions out there. To be honest it’s a shame we haven’t got the video umpire. It came right of my stick into the goal, it didn’t touch the Canadian player in the D. They also didn’t travel 5 yards when they passed it so we could have had either decision so it shouldn’t have counted.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve played with a video umpire and it’s proved very successful. A lot of the decisions we appeal tend to be right. Hockey is a better game with the video umpire at this level it’s very fast and we would have appealed a couple of those decisions,” added the full back.

England dominated the second half proceedings but could only find the back of the net once with a reverse stick strike from Simon Mantell. They could and should have won the game but for some fine goalkeeping from Philip Wright in the Canada goal.

Simon, who plays alongside his older brother Richard for club side Reading, was also disappointed that the system is not in place and admitted it is even more frustrating when you know the system works but it is not on offer.

He said: “It’s crushing but umpires make mistakes, they’re humans and we accept that but the problem is when we do have the technology. We are use to it now, it works so well and it’s just gutting when it goes against you.

“There has been so much discussion about it over the last two years and I think Hockey as got it right compared to others sports like Football. But the fact we are at such a massive tournament and we haven’t got it just means goals like that are scored.”

But despite the absence of video technology the Berkshire based pair conceded they had enough chances to win the game with goal-scorer Simon admitting it was ‘incredibly disappointing’ to not come away with a win.

He said: “It’s nice to score, I was lucky because I didn’t get hold of the shot if I did I don’t think it would have gone in but that’s completely overshadowed by not winning the game. I think we had a lot of possession - the stats will talk for themselves in terms of possession and how much circle entry we had."

Richard added: “We had a lot of the play, a lot of ball, a lot of chances - enough corners and open play chances to win the game. Overall it’s very disappointing. We would always want to go out and beat them.”

"We had loads of corners, it’s no where near the conversion rate we expect from any of us. It's equally disappointing not to score some more goals from open play. The conditions are tough and I'd like to think we are one of the fittest team here. I think that should in the end we kept the pressure up. It just wasn’t going in,” concluded the 29-year-old.