Defending champions The Netherlands broke the record for the biggest win at a Women's World Cup ©Getty Images

Defending champions The Netherlands broke the record for the biggest win at a Women's Hockey World Cup as they continued their rich vein of scoring form in a 12-1 demolition of Italy here today.

The Dutch side have now scored 26 goals from their opening three matches after they inflicted a crushing defeat on their Italian opponents to guarantee top spot in Pool A.

Their dominant triumph saw them enter the record books as their margin of victory bettered West Germany's 10-1 thrashing of Nigeria at the 1978 World Cup.

The Netherlands have qualified directly for the last eight, with Italy consigned to the "cross-over" play-off round for a place in the quarter-finals.

Kitty van Male topped the scoring charts for The Netherlands with four goals, while Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel marked her 200th appearance for her country with two. 

Kelly Jonker and Frederique Matla scored twice, while Caia van Maasakker and Margot van Geffen also found the net in a scintillating attacking display from the red-hot tournament favourites.

The Netherlands produced another scintillating attacking display in the 12-1 win ©Getty Images
The Netherlands produced another scintillating attacking display in the 12-1 win ©Getty Images

Chiara Tiddi had briefly given Italy hope of denying the Dutch an inevitable win when she converted a penalty corner early in the second period.

The game was surprisingly a straight shoot-out for first place in the group as Italy, the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, had also won their opening two contests and harboured hopes of causing a huge upset.

But they were no match for a rampant Dutch side aiming to secure an eighth Hockey World Cup title.

In the other game in the pool, South Korea and China played out a 1-1 draw.

England survived a scare in their Pool B finale as Giselle Ansley's penalty corner in the fourth quarter gave the hosts a narrow 1-0 win over Ireland.

After India and the United States had drawn in the other match in the group, England were all-but assured of a place in the play-offs.

But the English team knew defeat could have seen them face a shoot-out with either India or the US.

They avoided that scenario by grinding out a victory which earned them second spot in the group behind the already-qualified Irish team.

England will play South Korea and India face Italy in the cross-over round, where quarter-final berths will be at stake.

The event continues tomorrow.