Opening victory for Great Britain


On a hot and sunny afternoon in Rosario, Great Britain women’s
hockey team got their Champions Trophy campaign underway with a 3-0
victory over Japan putting them at the top of Pool A.  Earlier
on in the afternoon the Netherlands won their first game against
China 3-1.

Canterbury’s Abi Walker and Leicester’s Anne Panter watched the
first game from the sidelines.

Great Britain started strongly with several circle penetrations and
half chances in the first ten minutes, Reading’s Alex Danson
causing many of the early headaches for Japan to deal with.

On 21 minutes Leicester’s Crista Cullen made it 1-0 scoring her
18th goal in Great Britain colours with a powerful drag flick from
the first penalty corner of the game.  Cullen narrowly missed
adding her second a short time after following some great work from
Danson on the edge of the circle to win Great Britain their second
penalty corner.

Great Britain continued to press in the closing minutes of the
first half and with just two minutes to go some great team work
from Slough’s Ashleigh Ball and Cullen saw them take possession
back.  Following a play of advantage from the umpire in the
circle Reading’s Helen Richardson found herself with space and time
to smash the ball into the back of the net past the near post to
make it 2-0.

Great Britain started the second half very much as they had ended
the first with Danson creating a chance in the opening minute.
 Japan however weren’t giving up without a fight and they
tested the Great Britain defence several times in the first ten
minutes pushing hard and earning themselves their first penalty
corner of the game.

The corner resulted in a penalty stroke initially being awarded to
Japan, but GB successfully challenged and overturned the decision.
 The video referral showing that the initial shot had been
going wide when Helen Richardson stopped the ball with her
arm.

During the second half Japan’s number 4, Sachimi Iwao, made two
goal saving tackles against Alex Danson to keep Japan in the game.
 Moments later Danson was again involved in the action,
earning her team their third penalty corner of the game.
 Great Britain failed to convert their chance and continued to
be placed under pressure by Japan who certainly enjoyed the
majority of possession throughout the second half.

Following Japan’s second penalty corner of the game, which they
failed to convert, Leicester’s Chloe Rogers took the ball the
length of the pitch and crossed a fantastic ball to Danson who was
waiting on the goal line to make it 3-0.  Japan took their
video referral to ask about dangerous play which was denied.
 The game finished 3-0.

Speaking after the game Great Britain’s head coach, Danny Kerry
said, “We were dominant in the first half and given the conditions
I’m really pleased with the team’s performance.  We knew it
would be a tough game today and the great execution of the first
corner was really important for us to gain control early on.”

Great Britain’s Captain Kate Walsh, was pleased with her team’s
opening performance saying, “This was a professional start to the
tournament and we stuck to the game plan well.” Kerry highlighted
some concerns over the scheduling of the Pool matches for the
tournament with Pool A games all taking place during the afternoon
and Pool B games in the cooler evening temperature.  Walsh,
however added, “We have a very physically fit team and have worked
hard to overcome the heat.”

On a hot and sunny afternoon in Rosario, Great Britain
women’s hockey team got their Champions Trophy campaign underway
with a 3-0 victory over Japan putting them at the top of Pool A.
 Earlier on in the afternoon the Netherlands won their first
game against China 3-1.

Canterbury’s Abi Walker and Leicester’s Anne Panter watched the
first game from the sidelines.

Great Britain started strongly with several circle penetrations
and half chances in the first ten minutes, Reading’s Alex Danson
causing many of the early headaches for Japan to deal with.

On 21 minutes Leicester’s Crista Cullen made it 1-0 scoring her
18th goal in Great Britain colours with a powerful drag flick from
the first penalty corner of the game.

Cullen narrowly missed adding her second a short time after
following some great work from Danson on the edge of the circle to
win Great Britain their second penalty corner.

Great Britain continued to press in the closing minutes of the
first half and with just two minutes to go some great team work
from Slough’s Ashleigh Ball and Cullen saw them take possession
back.  Following a play of advantage from the umpire in the
circle Reading’s Helen Richardson found herself with space and time
to smash the ball into the back of the net past the near post to
make it 2-0.

Great Britain started the second half very much as they had
ended the first with Danson creating a chance in the opening
minute.  Japan however weren’t giving up without a fight and
they tested the Great Britain defence several times in the first
ten minutes pushing hard and earning themselves their first penalty
corner of the game.

The corner resulted in a penalty stroke initially being awarded
to Japan, but GB successfully challenged and overturned the
decision.  The video referral showing that the initial shot
had been going wide when Helen Richardson stopped the ball with her
arm.

During the second half Japan’s number 4, Sachimi Iwao, made two
goal saving tackles against Alex Danson to keep Japan in the game.
 Moments later Danson was again involved in the action,
earning her team their third penalty corner of the game.
 Great Britain failed to convert their chance and continued to
be placed under pressure by Japan who certainly enjoyed the
majority of possession throughout the second half.

Following Japan’s second penalty corner of the game, which they
failed to convert, Leicester’s Chloe Rogers took the ball the
length of the pitch and crossed a fantastic ball to Danson who was
waiting on the goal line to make it 3-0.  Japan took their
video referral to ask about dangerous play which was denied.
 The game finished 3-0.

Speaking after the game Great Britain’s head coach, Danny Kerry
said,

“We were dominant in the first half and given the conditions I’m
really pleased with the team’s performance.  We knew it would
be a tough game today and the great execution of the first corner
was really important for us to gain control early on.”

 

 

 

 

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