The Kent contingent have helped England make a mixed start to their World League Finals campaign in Argentina, surviving an early scare to beat Korea before a heartbreaking defeat to Olympic champions the Netherlands on Sunday.

Holcombe’s Maddie Hinch started both games in goal while her teammate Laura Unsworth was picked in defence and Egerton-based Reading star Susie Townsend – formerly captain of Canterbury - coming off the bench in midfield in game one before starting game two.

In Saturday's opener England fell 2-0 behind in Tucuman with the Koreans netting twice in three minutes midway through the first half, but England pulled one back before half-time before a dominant second-half display saw them score five more for a 6-2 win.

Hinch said: “In the end I think it was a real gritty performance from us. To go 2-0 down was disappointing, but we never panicked and to put in a second half performance like that I thought was outstanding and it bodes well for the rest of the tournament."

However the Dutch began Sunday's game the stronger and led through Maarje Paulmen's penalty corner strike which beat Hinch after just six minutes.

However England battled back and Georgie Twigg directed the ball home from a short-corner routine before the break before an Unsworth cross into the D was deflected into the net by a Netherlands defender on 41 minutes.

The lead lasted until three minutes from time when resolute England defence was pierced by Paumen's penalty corner strike flying high past Hinch, and within a minute the game was turned on its head when Kitty van Male slotted the ball home from close range to steal the points.

England remain second in Pool A after a draw between Korea and European champions Germany, whom England face in their final pool game on Tuesday (2.30pm GMT).