Great Britain's hockey men paid the price for some lacklustre finishing as they lost the opening match of their three Test series with South Africa in Cape Town.

Nick Catlin steered the visitors into a 12th minute lead when he followed up on Richard Mantell's penalty corner.

But indecision in the British defence allowed Julian Hykes to equalise, with the first of his two goals, while Austin Smith's penalty corner put South Africa in control.

Ian Haley added another after the break before Simon Mantell netted to reduced the deficit, only for Lloyd Norris Jones and Hykes to score South Africa's fourth and fifth goals a few minutes later.

Rob Moore scored a consolation on the stroke of full-time but it was too little too late for Great Britain, who head to Stellenbosch on Tuesday for the second match of the series.

“It was a disappointing start to the test series,” said team manager Andy Halliday.

“We were slow out of the blocks and were punished by a clinical South Africa team, but we had plenty of chances to get back into the game which we didn’t take."

Sportsbeat / Eurosport