GB end European Tour with thrilling draw against Germany

Alan Forsyth set the bar high for GB, scoring in the opening minute, at their final game against Germany in Cologne. In addition to this celebration, Forsyth was playing on his 150th combined International appearance. Lee Morton further made his GB International debut showing how this European Tour has been one of a success for the Scots.

Great Britain’s men finished of their European Tour with a scintillating draw in Cologne. Luke Taylor though he had secured the most dramatic of victories with his third goal in as many games just five minutes from the end, but the Germans equalised in the final seconds of the game through a Mathias Muller corner.

Seven goals alone were scored in the breathtaking first half, with GB taking a 4-3 lead into the break thanks to Alan Forsyth, Chris Griffiths and a double from Liam Ansell, before Niklas Bruns levelled the scoring moments into the third quarter.

The draw was the third in four games for the men at the end of a promising tour, following 1-1 finishes against the same opponents on Tuesday and Belgium, who they also narrowly lost 3-2 against last week.

The game started as it meant to go on with Forsyth netting in the first minute, before Christopher Ruhr levelled the scores for the first time halfway through the first quarter.

Griffiths then restored the lead in the 20th minute before the Germans struck twice in quick succession through Bruns and Mats Grambusch to take the lead for the first time in the game.

But it did not last long as Ansell himself struck in consecutive minutes to give his side the advantage heading into the break.

Bruns then continued the frenzy with another equaliser just moments after the restart but the game could not carry on at such a ferocious pace and it was not until the 55th minute when another goal was scored by Taylor converted a corner.

The drama was not to end there though as, with less than 45 seconds remaining, Muller repaid the favour through a corner of his own to ensure the spoils from this ten goal thriller were shared.

The tour also saw England’s Will Calnan make his GB International Debut.

Germany 5 (3)

Ruhr (FG, 8); Bruns (FG, 25; FG, 31); Grambusch (PC, 26); Muller (PC, 60)

Great Britain 5 (4)

Forsyth (FG, 1); C.Griffiths (FG, 20); Ansell (FG, 28; FG, 29); Taylor (PC, 55)

GB Starting XI: Pinner, Weir, Forsyth, C. Griffiths, Hoare, Ward, Roper (C), Dixon, Middleton, Creed, Ansell

Subs: Gibson, Taylor, Horler. Condon, Morton, J. Griffiths, Calnan