Source: GB Hockey

Evans milestone as Britain beaten by Dutch

  • +1

Netherlands took a deserved 2-0 win over Britain’s women in the FIH Pro League in Eindhoven, although Mark Hager’s side will have been boosted by a spirited display, particularly in the second half.

Britain started well and fashioned an early corner, but Frederique Matla scored with a nice finish inside the first quarter to break the deadlock. When Marijn Veen made it two in the second quarter, it looked like the all-conquering Dutch would go on to score more, but Britain proved stoic in the face of pressure.

While not creating the chances they would have liked, Britain had good passages of play and dug in against the strongest XI that the Dutch have yet fielded in the league so far.

Qualification for the top four looks like it may now be a step too far in this first ever FIH Pro League season, but there were positives signs for our women on the road – and an honourable mention must go to Sarah Evans for her 100th international appearance.

Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb said, “The performance was 100% better than when we played Belgium on Thursday, which is a massive positive. But, we made two mistakes and they cost us. At the top level we’ve got to cut them out but overall it was much better.”

Netherlands 2
Matla (12′ FG)
Veen (19′ FG)

Great Britain 0

Great Britain: Heesh, Costello, Balsdon, Unsworth, Toman, Ansley, Pearne-Webb (c), Robertson, Jones, Neal, Petty, Sanders, Defroand, Hunter, Evans, Howard, Martin
Unused: Cochrane

Next up at home
After these games, the Britain teams face Germany on home soil, with the men’s team in action on Thu 6 Jun at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre before the women play the same opponents the following evening. Tickets are available online in advance here or in person at the venue.

Courtesy of GB Hockey