England knew they would have to work hard to beat Wales - but not as hard as they eventually did to overcome their opponents in the quarter-finals here at the World Championship.

Playing in their second game at the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, England started slowly as they had done against Wales in the pool stages, a game they only led 2-1 at half-time.

But credit to Wales, with nothing to lose and a semi-final place up for stake, the Dragons worked hard to frustrate England. They made life decidedly difficult.

It was a physical game and both sides had players sent-off for dangerous play.

Wales' Catherine Coulthard was the first to go for a swipe to the head midway through the second-half, while at the other end England's Susannah Eul was dismissed for five minutes, also for dangerous play after her second yellow card.

England's Justine Hunt was left nursing a bloodied nose and was then hit in the face for a second time just moments later.

Both sides looked unsettled and the match became scrappy, with mistakes coming under pressure.

However, it was England who opened the scoring through Ailsa Stott after just 2min 35secs, before Katy Bennett doubled England's advantage with an unassisted goal less than a minute later.

But Rosalind Lloyd hit back for Wales from a Warren assist, before Warren shot wide with a good chance to level at 2-2.

England had a string of shots as they tried to forge ahead, but Emily Garvey, Stott and Allison Smith all fired wide.

Wales defender Emma Holliday received a yellow-card for dangerous play after a swipe to the head of Sarah Butt, now playing in her fifth World Cup.

England extended their advantage after some concerted pressure. Eul shot wide and Garvey and Rachel Kirchheimer both saw shots saved, before Bennett stole some space to score an excellent unassisted goal.

Wales replied with a goal through Kate Taylor with 27min 50secs remaining, while Lizze Leppard came close to making it 4-2 to England on the stroke of half-time

Eul picked up picked up an unnecessary yellow card with six seconds left in the half.

The second-half was a scrappy affair, but it was Wales who dominated the draw 4-1 and put England under pressure.

It became 3-3 when Astley slotted home from a Lloyd pass, before Butt re-stored England's advantage after Bennett has seen a shot blocked.

Stott guided England into a 5-3 lead, but Astley scored her second and Warren grabbed her late leveller which send the match into over-time.

Wales won the draw at the start of over-time, but despite a battling display, Lynch netted for England and won them the game.

WOMEN, Lacrosse World Championship (Annapolis, Maryland) - Quarter-finals: England 6 Wales 5 (half scores 3-2, 2-3, 1-0 after over-time); Japan 11 Canada 13 (7-7, 4-6).

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