Four up for GB against Japan

Team GB women share top spot with China after a
convincing 4-0 win over Japan in the opening pool match of the
London Olympic hockey tournament at Riverside Arena yesterday, an
ideal start for coach Danny Kerry in front of a vociferous home
crowd.

If there were any pre-tournament nerves Kerry`s charges quickly
brushed them aside as they moved into a 4-0 lead at the
interval.   The first goal came in only seven minutes,
the ball broke from a couple of tackles at the top of the circle to
Alex Danson and the Reading striker fired a reverse stick shot past
the Japanese goalkeeper. 

The Scots duo of Emily Maguire and Laura Bartlett were involved
in the build-up for the second and the resulting cross was
deflected home by Wales` Sarah Thomas.    After 25
minutes Bartlett won another penalty corner, the move broke down
but the ball fell kindly to Sally Walton whose reverse stick flick
flew into the roof of the net.   The fourth came soon
after, at the top of the circle Helen Richardson pushed the ball
onto to Danson who slipped it past the advancing goalkeeper. 
Danson had the chance of a first half hat-trick but just on the
interval her effort went high and wide of the target.

The second half was a more pedestrian affair, GB had a few
chances to increase their lead but no-one found the target. 
Early on Helen Richardson won a penalty corner, the routine broke
down and Chloe Rogers fired the loose ball over the
bar.   In the remaining few chances, Danson`s effort was
blocked by the keeper while Crista Cullen hit a post from a penalty
corner.   In an untidy end to the game, there were
injuries to Kate Walsh, who was struck on the face with a stick,
while Richardson suffered a knee injury.

In the other pool matches there were emphatic wins for Olympic
champions Netherlands and silver medallists China.  The Dutch
opened with a clinical 3-0 win over Belgium, two goals came from
Kim Lammers along with a penalty corner strike by Caia van
Maasakker did the damage.  In the all-Asian clash China
crushed South Korea 4-0, Yibo Ma scored the first and last goals,
in between Yudiao Zhao and Hongxia Li notched the others.

In the other group New Zealand overcame neighbours Australia by
a single goal from Cath Finlayson in only three minutes, while
second seeds Argentina demolished South Africa 7-1 with two goals
from captain Luciana Aymar.

Team GB men start their Olympic campaign with an opening fixture
against ninth seed Argentina.

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