Coach Gordon Shepherd's charges were left ruing missed chances once again as they suffered a seventh defeat by South Africa this year in their opening match of the Investec Cup yesterday.

The Scots, who trailed at the interval against the run of play, had goals by both Ali Bell and Ailsa Wyllie disallowed by the umpires.

Inside five minutes, Wyllie had a shot saved by the goalkeeper, Nikki Skrastin's follow-up effort was blocked, and the ball fell to Nikki Kidd whose effort was cleared by the keeper at her left hand post. Kidd had another opportunity from a penalty corner but her drag-flick was again dealt with by the in-form goalkeeper.

South Africa took the lead in 15 minutes: the initial shot was blocked by Amy Gibson but the bouncing ball was volleyed in by Kathleen Taylor. A Bell effort was disallowed for use of the back of the stick, then Catriona Ralph's cross eluded Bell and Nikki Lloyd. On the interval Gibson prevented a second goal with a brilliant diving save from Taylor.

South Africa were the more aggressive side in the second half and Gibson had to make two fine saves from Lillian Du Plessis, although the Scots pressed for an equaliser and Kidd's low drag-flick at a set piece was brilliantly stopped by the goalkeeper's stick. Seven minutes from time, Wyllie rolled the ball into the empty net but the umpire ruled that it had come off the body of Lloyd and disallowed the goal, South Africa broke on the counter-attack and Taylor made it 2-0 with a low shot.

Meanwhile Scotland's men were trounced by England, the world's No.5-ranked side, in their opening match of the Investec Cup in London, and the margin would surely have been greater had it not been for several brilliant saves by Gavin Sommerville, the Western Wildcats goalkeeper.

The game was effectively over by the interval, England having cruised to a four-goal lead. Ashley Jackson opened the scoring with a vicious drag-flick at a penalty corner in the first minute, and there were further goals before the break from Mark Gleghorne (2) and Simon Mantell. The Scots had their chances through Alan Forsyth and Chris Nelson, but Kenny Bain missed the best chance just on the interval when he was unlucky not to tap in at the near post.

As the one-way traffic continued after the interval, the Scotland defence struggled to keep their hosts at bay. Eventually, Phillip Roper added a fifth with a reverse-stick shot from the top of the circle, then Jackson notched another with a low shot from a penalty corner two minutes from time.