Great Britain beat India to climb table

GREAT Britain men battled to a deserved 3-2 victory
over India in their second match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in
Malaysia on Sunday. Despite high temperatures and humidity which
clearly suited their rivals, Great Britain dug deep and held them
at bay to secure a win which leaves them second in the table ahead
of the next set of matches on Monday.
Great Britain had much of the possession in the
first half and dominated for long periods, but India looked
dangerous on the counter attack.
British pressure paid off when, seven minutes
before half time, good team play led to a well worked penalty
corner move was finished by East Grinstead’s Glenn Kirkham.
Britain were worth their half time lead, but
Cannock goalkeeper James Fair had to be alert on two occasions,
saving well from Danish and Gurbaj Singh.
Britain extended their lead with a deserved second
goal which came nine minutes after play had resumed with Ben Hawes
finishing off another well-worked penalty corner.
In stifling heat with temperatures around 29
degrees and high humidity, Britain worked hard to maintain their
lead and had much possession, but were rocked by two goals in three
minutes which threatened a repeat of Malaysia’s comeback in the
opening match.
Raghunath scored with a blistering 56th minute
penalty corner drag flick which gave James Fair in goal no chance.
And shortly after Sunil grabbed the crucial equaliser from open
play.
With Britain sitting deeper and India gaining more
possession the game became very end to end, mainly due to the
heat.
But GB hit back to take the points with Reading’s
Nick Catlin latching on to a pass from Matt Daly after Britain had
turned over Indian possession in their own half. Catlin scored on
62 minutes with a deft reverse stick chip over the advancing keeper
to give Britain a lead they would not surrender.
A late flurry of penalty corners were brilliantly
defended with a line save by East Grinstead’s Barry Middleton and
bravery from Ian McKay, and Britain held out for a hard-earned and
morale-boosting victory ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Argentina
(11:05 BST).
“It’s great to win and we scored from some great
penalty corners,” said Head Coach Jason Lee. “And there was some
fantastic defending when it was getting difficult in the
conditions.
“It’s a huge advantage for teams like India and
Malaysia to be playing in those conditions, they thrive in this
weather. But apart from some very good goal defending from the
Malaysians we would’ve had two wins.
“Argentina tomorrow will be interesting. It’s a
quick turnaround and it will be a war of attrition given the
temperatures. Individually we should be too good for them, but
they’ve had a good win today so it will be interesting.”

Great Britain men battled to a deserved 3-2 victory over
India in their second match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in
Malaysia on Sunday.

Despite high temperatures and humidity which clearly suited
their rivals, Great Britain dug deep and held them at bay to secure
a win which leaves them second in the table ahead of the next set
of matches on Monday.

Great Britain had much of the possession in the first half and
dominated for long periods, but India looked dangerous on the
counter attack.

British pressure paid off when, seven minutes before half time,
good team play led to a well worked penalty corner move was
finished by East Grinstead’s Glenn Kirkham.

Britain were worth their half time lead, but Cannock goalkeeper
James Fair had to be alert on two occasions, saving well from
Danish and Gurbaj Singh

Britain extended their lead with a deserved second goal which
came nine minutes after play had resumed with Ben Hawes finishing
off another well-worked penalty corner.

In stifling heat with temperatures around 29 degrees and high
humidity, Britain worked hard to maintain their lead and had much
possession, but were rocked by two goals in three minutes which
threatened a repeat of Malaysia’s comeback in the opening
match.

Raghunath scored with a blistering 56th minute penalty corner
drag flick which gave James Fair in goal no chance. And shortly
after Sunil grabbed the crucial equaliser from open play.

With Britain sitting deeper and India gaining more possession
the game became very end to end, mainly due to the heat

But GB hit back to take the points with Reading’s Nick Catlin
latching on to a pass from Matt Daly after Britain had turned over
Indian possession in their own half. Catlin scored on 62 minutes
with a deft reverse stick chip over the advancing keeper to give
Britain a lead they would not surrender.

A late flurry of penalty corners were brilliantly defended with
a line save by East Grinstead’s Barry Middleton and bravery from
Ian McKay, and Britain held out for a hard-earned and
morale-boosting victory ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Argentina
(11:05 BST).

“It’s great to win and we scored from some great penalty
corners,” said Head Coach Jason Lee. “And there was some fantastic
defending when it was getting difficult in the conditions.

“It’s a huge advantage for teams like India and Malaysia to be
playing in those conditions, they thrive in this weather. But apart
from some very good goal defending from the Malaysians we would’ve
had two wins.

“Argentina tomorrow will be interesting. It’s a quick turnaround
and it will be a war of attrition given the temperatures.
Individually we should be too good for them, but they’ve had a good
win today so it will be interesting.”

 

 

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