HEREFORD hockey star Percy Steele has won a gold medal at the Grand Masters European Championships.

Steele played for the England Senior Grand Masters team that stormed to victory at Southgate Hockey Club in Watford.

He played in both of England's two matches, with the host country beating the Netherlands on both occasions.

Steele, who was playing for the Over 75s, is a long-serving player and popular member at Hereford Hockey Club.

The India-born player won the Grand Masters World Cup in Rotterdam last year and scored for his country in the South Africa tournament in 2010.

The 74-year-old was also part of the England team that took silver at the showpiece event in Hong Kong two years previously, while in the same year, he helped his country to success at the European Super Veterans- tournament in Spain.

In the first game at Watford, Steele, along with Brian Tubb and George Hazell, kept a tight grip in midfield, restricting the Netherlands to chances.

England opened the scoring after the break through Peter Danson before another passing move led to Bill Greenwood doubling the advantage.

With time running out and the Dutch restricted to an occasional foray forward, England went 3-0 up when the Netherlands goalkeeper cleared a shot at goal, only for Gerald Wilkinson to return it into the roof of the net.

With the gold medal deciding the outcome of the second match, both sides started cautiously.

The Netherlands needed three goals to overcame the England advantage from the first match, whereas the home country could afford to draw.

England looked solid at the back, with Leon Mack and Andy Holden dealing with the early Dutch threats.

But they were unable to get past the Dutch goalkeeper in the first half and the game remained goalless.

The game continued in the same period in the second half, with the Netherlands camped in their own half and unable to pose a threat to Mike Fripp in the England goal.

But, with time running out, England grabbed the winner when Hazell rifled home a direct shot from a penalty corner.