GB narrowly lose out in Champions Trophy final

A single penalty corner strike by Silvina D’Elia
late in the first half meant Great Britain’s women collected the
silver medal at the Champions Trophy in Rosario on Sunday night.
 Despite losing to the World Champions by the narrowest of
margins, the result represents Great Britain’s best ever finish in
a World level event and comes just under six months before the
start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
D’Elia’s penalty corner strike just over five
minutes before half time proved decisive in a match that saw both
defences on top with Great Britain’s Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry
pulling off a string of good saves from penalty corners.
Great Britain entered the gold medal clash on the
back of a spirited semi final victory over Germany, while
Argentina’s progress to the final came after they beat the
Netherlands on penalties.  With Great Britain boasting the
best defensive record in the tournament it was always going to be
tight and so it proved.
Before the match, Leicester’s Chloe Rogers received
was presented with her 50th cap for Great Britain by Great Britain
Hockey President Richard Leman.  Coach Danny Kerry opted for
the same 16 players that had beaten Germany just over 24 hours
earlier.
The opening spell saw both sides work hard to
establish a foothold in the game and the earliest opportunities
fell the way of the hosts who won a series of penalty corners.
 The first was miss-controlled at the top of the circle but
from the second and third Great Britain’s Crista Cullen and
goalkeeper Beth Storry produced good blocks to maintain the 0-0
score.
Slough’s Nicola White had Great Britain’s first
real chance of the half as she entered the top of the Argentina
circle but her shot on her reverse was blocked by a defender and
cleared.  Soon after Leicester’s Cullen was called upon again
from another penalty corner before Silvina D’Elia broke the
deadlock with well hit finish from her side’s fifth penalty
corner.
Immediately after the goal, Reading goalkeeper
Storry reacted well to block a close range one-on-one as Argentina
threatened again.  Great Britain came close to an equaliser
three minutes before the break when Cullen’s goal-bound penalty
corner flick was cleared from in front of goal by Rosario Luchetti.
 And there was still time for Storry to produce a double save
at the other end from another Argentina penalty corner.
The second half saw both defences on top with Great
Britain’s back line withstanding early pressure.  Argentina’s
defence looked set to be tested midway through the half when White
again broke into the circle but she failed to get her shot away.
 Storry again produced two excellent saves from penalty
corners before Reading forward Alex Danson flashed a cross just
inches behind her fellow World All Stars nominee Helen Richardson
in the final moments.
Despite the late scare Argentina held on for the
victory, winning by a single goal in a tight affair.
After the match Great Britain Head Coach Danny
Kerry said, “I thought Argentina played very well tonight.
 They defended well, they didn’t create too many opportunities
and their defence held out.  We started to get back into it in
the second half but it wasn’t to be.
“We won four, drew one and lost just one in a major
world level tournament.  We’ve made history tonight winning
the silver medal.
“After yesterday’s game we had three or four
players trying to find their game, we know where we need to improve
and we will go forward and work on those areas.  We have set
ourselves high standards and I have to match the standards that the
players have set themselves.  That is the pressure I feel
going into the Olympics.”
Great Britain Captain Kate Walsh said, “I am proud
of the team tonight.  We’re devastated not to have won.
 Argentina took their chance well but all in all it’s a
disappointment.  But, it will fuel us on our way to
London.
“It was a great crowd and a great atmosphere.
 We thrive and get excited playing in front of a big crowd;
hopefully we can get the same support at home in the Investec
London Cup, the Olympic Test Event and at the Olympic Games.”
Earlier in the day, the Netherlands won the bronze
medal after beating Germany 5-4.
The Champions Trophy is the first of three major
tournaments for Great Britain ahead of the Olympic Games in London.
 From 2-6 May, Great Britain will play in the Olympic Test
Event and just seven weeks before London 2012, Great Britain will
host some of the best teams in the world at the Investec London Cup
in Chiswick.  Tickets for the Investec London Cup will go on
sale shortly.  Supporters can pre-register their interest for
free on the Great Britain Hockey website.

A single penalty corner strike by Silvina D’Elia late in
the first half meant Great Britain’s women collected the silver
medal at the Champions Trophy in Rosario on Sunday
night.

Despite losing to the World Champions by the narrowest of
margins, the result represents Great Britain’s best ever finish in
a World level event and comes just under six months before the
start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

D’Elia’s penalty corner strike just over five minutes before
half time proved decisive in a match that saw both defences on top
with Great Britain’s Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry pulling off a
string of good saves from penalty corners.

Great Britain entered the gold medal clash on the back of a
spirited semi final victory over Germany, while Argentina’s
progress to the final came after they beat the Netherlands on
penalties.  With Great Britain boasting the best defensive
record in the tournament it was always going to be tight and so it
proved.

Before the match, Leicester’s Chloe Rogers received was
presented with her 50th cap for Great Britain by Great Britain
Hockey President Richard Leman.  Coach Danny Kerry opted for
the same 16 players that had beaten Germany just over 24 hours
earlier.

The opening spell saw both sides work hard to establish a
foothold in the game and the earliest opportunities fell the way of
the hosts who won a series of penalty corners.  The first was
miss-controlled at the top of the circle but from the second and
third Great Britain’s Crista Cullen and goalkeeper Beth Storry
produced good blocks to maintain the 0-0 score.

Slough’s Nicola White had Great Britain’s first real chance of
the half as she entered the top of the Argentina circle but her
shot on her reverse was blocked by a defender and cleared.
 Soon after Leicester’s Cullen was called upon again from
another penalty corner before Silvina D’Elia broke the deadlock
with well hit finish from her side’s fifth penalty corner.

Immediately after the goal, Reading goalkeeper Storry reacted
well to block a close range one-on-one as Argentina threatened
again.  Great Britain came close to an equaliser three minutes
before the break when Cullen’s goal-bound penalty corner flick was
cleared from in front of goal by Rosario Luchetti.  And there
was still time for Storry to produce a double save at the other end
from another Argentina penalty corner.

The second half saw both defences on top with Great Britain’s
back line withstanding early pressure.  Argentina’s defence
looked set to be tested midway through the half when White again
broke into the circle but she failed to get her shot away.
 Storry again produced two excellent saves from penalty
corners before Reading forward Alex Danson flashed a cross just
inches behind her fellow World All Stars nominee Helen Richardson
in the final moments.

Despite the late scare Argentina held on for the victory,
winning by a single goal in a tight affair.

After the match Great Britain Head Coach Danny Kerry said, “I
thought Argentina played very well tonight.  They defended
well, they didn’t create too many opportunities and their defence
held out.  We started to get back into it in the second half
but it wasn’t to be.

“We won four, drew one and lost just one in a major world level
tournament.  We’ve made history tonight winning the silver
medal.

“After yesterday’s game we had three or four players trying to
find their game, we know where we need to improve and we will go
forward and work on those areas. We have set ourselves high
standards and I have to match the standards that the players have
set themselves.  That is the pressure I feel going into the
Olympics.”

Great Britain Captain Kate Walsh said,

“I am proud of the team tonight.  We’re devastated not to
have won.  Argentina took their chance well but all in all
it’s a disappointment.  But, it will fuel us on our way to
London.

“It was a great crowd and a great atmosphere.  We thrive
and get excited playing in front of a big crowd; hopefully we can
get the same support at home in the Investec London Cup, the
Olympic Test Event and at the Olympic Games.”

Earlier in the day, the Netherlands won the bronze medal after
beating Germany 5-4.

The Champions Trophy is the first of three major tournaments for
Great Britain ahead of the Olympic Games in London.  From 2-6
May, Great Britain will play in the Olympic Test Event and just
seven weeks before London 2012, Great Britain will host some of the
best teams in the world at the Investec London Cup in Chiswick.
 Tickets for the Investec London Cup will go on sale shortly.
 Supporters can pre-register their interest for free on the
Great Britain Hockey website.

 

 

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