MADDIE Hinch and England fell short of defending their EuroHockey Championships title, but went on to defeat Germany in the bronze medal match.

Marloes Keetels' strike gave the Netherlands a 1-0 semi-final win on Thursday, avenging their defeat to England in the 2015 final.

Goalkeeper Hinch, who attended King's College in Taunton, was beaten by Keetel's low effort in the fourth quarter, after two previous shots had been blocked.

England won several penalty corners, only to be frustrated by the solid Dutch defence, though Alex Danson and Sophie Bray did go close in a tight and tense encounter.

On Saturday, England faced Germany - who they had lost to in the pool stages - and won 2-0 with a controlled performance.

Goals from Hannah Martin and Danson, either side of half time, gave England bronze, and kept up England/Great Britain's record of having won at least one major medal in every year since 2009.