Both teams headed into the top-of-the table clash with a one hundred per cent record; England having comprehensively beaten Trinidad & Tobago and Malaysia previously.

However Tuesday morning’s match was a much tighter affair as New Zealand defended in numbers during a first half which saw two Ashley Jackson penalty corners saved by keeper Devon Manchester.

England captain Barry Middleton superbly cleared Andy Hayward’s penalty corner off the line after the break, but the Kiwis took the lead on 51 minutes. Michael Hoare was adjudged to have unfairly pushed Blair Hilton in the circle, and with New Zealand winning a successful team referral, Hayward dispatched the resulting penalty stroke.

England equalised eight minutes later as Phil Roper showed great skill to get behind the New Zealand defence to cross for Adam Dixon who fired home on the volley past Manchester.

But the Kiwis secured all three points with two minutes remaining as Simon Child reacted first to score following a penalty corner.

England play their final group game against Canada on Thursday (9am) as they look to secure a top-two finish to progress to the semi-finals.

England men's head coach Bobby Crutchley said: "A lot of the performance was good, we will have to focus on the next game which is Canada and then we will see where that takes us.

"I think these guys are playing some good hockey, today was a bit frustrating for us but there are still a lot of positives to take from the game."