Captain Alex Danson led from the front superbly and opened the scoring with her 106th international strike, meaning she becomes England and GB’s combined outright second highest scorer of all time behind Marjorie Pollard.

She then played pivotal roles in goals for Sophie Bray, Hannah Martin and Sarah Haycroft as England cruised to their first victory of the tournament despite a third quarter effort from Zhong Mengling.

The result means England will face the Americans – who came second in Pool A – on Thursday, a game Danson is already looking forward to after the improved performance in this match.

“I am delighted with that team performance today,” the forward said. “We were fantastic in defence and we had some beautiful connections between the defence, midfield and the forward line. To come out today and have a really good performance from back to front is something we are really happy with.

“We are very much looking forward to the next one against the USA. They are a very competitive team and we have played each other a couple of times already this year so it promises to be a great game.”

After spending much of their previous game against Argentina defending, England came out full of attacking intent against the world number eight outfit, with Lily Owsley in particular looking threatening.

The University of Birmingham midfielder brought the game to life in the 12th minute with a stunning run from her own half into China’s circle before Danson tucked the ball between the ‘keeper’s legs to open the scoring.

The lead was doubled at the end of the quarter as Bray smashed a shot past Li after being unselfishly set up by Martin at the end of a move which started with a raking pass down the left of the pitch by Danson.

Danny Kerry’s team continued to press in the second quarter and were unlucky not to score again as Bray had a shot well saved in the 25th minute Danson thumped a stinging reverse stick shot against the post moments later.

Shona McCallin then put in a timely tackle to thwart a Chinese attack in the 34th minute before England broke down the other end to score their third, Danson forcing her way into the circle and picking out Martin who tucked the ball away for her fifth international goal.

Owsley came close to bagging a goal herself but her shot at the end of another storming run was saved by Li before China struck back in the final minute of the third quarter as Zhong scored her country’s first goal of the tournament after a good initial save by Maddie Hinch.

England continued to dominate in the final quarter though as Martin and Owsley went close before Haycroft slotted home after more good work by Danson inside the Chinese circle.

England will now play the USA at 5am on Thursday 24 November in a game that will be shown on BT Sport.

England (2) 4

Danson (FG, 12), Bray (FG, 15), Martin (FG, 35), Haycroft (FG, 54)

China (0) 1

Zhong (FG, 45)

Starting XI: Hinch, Unsworth, Martin, Paige, Danson, Ansley, Bray, Pearne-Webb, McCallin, Owsley, Balsdon

Subs (Used): Haycroft, Toman, Petty, Sanders, Rayer, Defroand, Tennant

Report courtesy of England Hockey

 England were defeated by the USA in a dramatic penalty shootout in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals.

USAvEngland (Nicola White, Laura Unsworth and Melissa Gonzalez) (Photo: Rodrigo Jaramillo)

US captain Melissa Gonzalez netted the winning penalty despite the best efforts of Maddie Hinch, who made four stops in the shootout, including a sensational spinning stop which you can see here.

Hannah Martin had given England the lead in normal time, a lead that they kept until the closing minutes, but Jill Witmer levelled to send the game to a shootout.

It was England who started brightest, immediately pinning the USA back with consistent pressure on their defensive line. The first chance of the game fell to Danson but her shot from a tight angle found the side board. The USA responded but it was England who again went closest to taking the lead; Emily Defroand stole possession in midfield and the counter attack saw Zoe Shipperley with time to shoot but her effort snuck wide of the right post.

Shortly before the first break England were again frustrated not to pull ahead, Danson danced into the circle before unleashing a reverse stick strike which was kept out by Jackie Briggs.

Immediately after the restart England took the lead in stunning fashion. Townsend carried the ball before finding Bray in the circle, and a clever reverse pass then released Martin who finished coolly.

Both sides were showing exactly why they had progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament, the game being played at a fierce pace with plenty of chances but at half-time the score remained 1-0.

There continued to be little between the teams in the third quarter but the USA did begin to take control of the encounter enjoying more possession, however determined defensive work from England kept their chances to a minimum as they entered the final fifteen minutes still in the lead.

It had been a relatively quiet night for Maddie Hinch but in the final quarter she was called into action. From three penalty corners in quick succession she made five saves including one stunning triple to keep England’s lead intact.

Lily Owsley was shown a yellow card for a deemed push in the closing stages and with three minutes remaining a reverse stick strike across goal deflected into Hinch and dropped to Witmer to tap home and force a shootout.

Gonzalez stepped up first to score and put the USA ahead but from here on it was all about the goalkeepers, Hinch and Briggs saved the next seven penalties between them with some stunning saves.

Sarah Haycroft kept her cool to level with England’s fifth penalty but Danson’s sudden death effort was saved. Gonzalez stepped up again and finished high into the top corner to send the USA into final.

Assistant Coach David Ralph – who led the team in the absence of the unwell Danny Kerry – said, “We are obviously disappointed with the result tonight. It was an intense, tight game that unfortunately didn’t go our way. This is a great group of players though and we will regroup and look forward to playing Argentina on Sunday.”

Sophie Bray added, “It’s an honour to receive my 100th cap for my country. I have a lot of people to thank for helping me on my way. We are gutted with the result but will be back on Sunday ready to go again.”

England will face Argentina in the bronze medal match on Sunday morning at 10am UK time live on BT Sport.

England starting XI: Maddie Hinch (GK), Giselle Ansley, Laura Unsworth, Hollie Webb, Anna Toman, Sarah Haycroft, Emily Defroand, Susannah Townsend, Nicola White, Alex Danson (C), Sophie Bray

Subs (Used): Zoe Shipperley, Grace Balsdon, Shona McCallin, Jo Hunter, Hannah Martin, Lily Owsley

Subs (Unused): Amy Tennant (GK)

Report courtesy of England Hockey

England cruised to a 4-1 win in their quarter-final match with India at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in Johannesburg.

England celebrate (Photo: Rodrigo Jaramillo)

Goals from Giselle Ansley, Alex Danson, Susannah Townsend and Hannah Martin sealed the convincing win as England booked their place in Thursday’s semi-finals.

England will face the USA at either 3:45pm or 6pm UK time, and in reaching the final four England have also secured qualification for the World League Finals to be held in New Zealand in November.

Straight from the start England looked to stamp their authority on the game pushing India deep into their half from the get go. This soon resulted in a flurry of penalty corners and although these were not converted, at England’s fourth penalty corner they were awarded a penalty stroke.

Having missed earlier in the tournament, Ansley stepped up and made no mistake, pushing her effort inside the right hand post where she had missed against Poland. England’s lead was soon extended. A fine flowing move down the right saw Susannah Townsend’s cross deflected into an Indian defender before Danson reacted quickest to spin and hammer home before the first break.

India responded in the second quarter showing some resilience after a tough opening. They began to exert pressure on the England backline and struck the post from a well worked penalty corner but a goal before the break eluded them.

The third quarter was evenly contested between the sides with England happy to sit a little deeper with their two goal lead, however before the final break they grabbed a third goal in style. Martin collected the ball on the right before starting a weaving run which sent Indian heads spinning, her cross through the circle fell to Townsend who turned home first time.

India did grab a consolation goal in the final fifteen minutes through Gurjit Kaur’s drag flick but England responded immediately to make it 4-1 as Martin passed into an empty net with India having elected for a kicking back.

England saw out the closing moments to ensure the win and progress to the semi-finals and book their place at the Hockey World League Finals in New Zealand later this year.

England women’s team Head Coach Danny Kerry will not attend the squad’s remaining matches in the Hockey World League Semi Final due to being unwell.

In Danny’s absence, Assistant Coach David Ralph guided the athletes to a 3-2 win over Ireland on Sunday then a 4-1 victory over India. They now face USA in a semi final on Thursday, with Finals Day taking place on Sunday.

England starting XI: Maddie Hinch (GK), Giselle Ansley, Laura Unsworth, Hollie Webb, Anna Toman, Sarah Haycroft, Emily Defroand, Susannah Townsend, Nicola White, Alex Danson, Sophie Bray

Subs (Used): Shona McCallin, Zoe Shipperley, Grace Balsdon, Hannah Martin, Jo Hunter

Subs (Not used): Amy Tennant
Unavailable (Illness): Lily Owsley

Report courtesy of England Hockey

Maddie Hinch (Photo: Rodrigo Jaramillo)

After defeat to Japan on Wednesday, England responded strongly and dominated against their German counterparts to grab a deserved 1-0 win.

England’s second victory of the tournament lifts them to second in pool A ahead of their final group game against Ireland on Sunday.

Reflecting on the match, head coach Danny Kerry said: “This evening we were exceptional at being intelligent, fast and constantly threatening.

“We limited Germany to very few opportunities and created numerous chances ourselves. The girls can be very proud of how they went about their business.”

England started well and were quick to put the German backline under pressure, Laura Unsworth’s crashed ball into the circle was just out of Sophie Bray’s reach in the circle inside two minutes of the start.

Germany responded strongly and were soon creating chances of their own, a last ditch tackle from Anna Toman stopped Camile  Nobis from striking at goal before Maddie Hinch saved well from Charlotte Stapenhorst just before the first break.

The second quarter saw England settle and dominate the next 15 minutes. Alex Danson took a blow to the head after striking into the keeper’s pads but was able to continue, Germany keeping out the resulting penalty corner.

Bray was charged down by Julia Ciupka in the German goal when she broke into the circle and before the half-time break she was again at her best to somehow keep out three consecutive efforts as the sides went in level at the break.

England kept up their tempo and pressure and when Germany received two cards in a minute camped in the German half. However they couldn’t get the break through before Germany were restored to eleven players but soon after did break the deadlock.

From a penalty corner Unsworth slapped towards the right post where Jo Hunter was on hand to deflect high into the net as England’s pressure eventually told.

The match tightened up in the final fifteen minutes and with time running out for Germany they elected for a kicking back, but England’s defence held firm to secure all three points.

Next up for England are Ireland in their final Pool A game on Sunday afternoon at 1pm UK time, live on BT Sport.

England starting XI: Maddie Hinch, Laura Unsworth, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Webb, Anna Toman, Sarah Haycroft, Susannah Townsend, Emily Defroand, Nicola White, Alex Danson, Sophie Bray

Subs (Used): Zoe Shipperley, Shona McCallin, Jo Hunter, Hannah Martin, Lily Owsley, Grace Balsdon

Subs (Unused): Amy Tennant (GK)

Report courtesy of England Hockey

A strike from Mami Karino earned Japan a 1-0 win over England in their Hockey World League Semi-Final clash in Johannesburg.

Hollie Webb in action (Photo: England Hockey)

England dominated possession and created a number of chances but weren’t able to find a way through Japan’s stubborn defence.

Of their twelve efforts England found the target five times but found Megumi Kageyama in fine form in the Japan goal, and her late saves saw her side over the line.

Reflecting on the match England head coach Danny Kerry said: “Japan started quicker than us and it was a big contrast to playing a slow game against Poland in our first match.

“In the second half we controlled the game and Japan had little to no opportunity whilst we had a number of chances which just didn’t quite fall right for us.

“Importantly we played well in the second half and we need to focus on that rather than the result.”

It was Japan who carved out the first attempt of the match and with it raced into the lead in just the third minute. From the left wing a cross was crashed across goal causing confusion as Karino made no mistake from close range.

England responded well to the setback and were soon looking at home, dominating possession and creating chances. Sarah Haycroft, making her 50th international appearance, struck into the circle but the ball just evaded both Danson and Bray in front of goal before Jo Hunter’s effort was smothered by the Japanese goalkeeper.

In the second quarter Japan broke out and threatened to extend their lead, but Hinch was quickly off her line and down to save well. England pushed to level but despite their best efforts weren’t able to create a clear cut chance ahead of the half time break.

Japan looked refreshed after the interval and were soon exerting pressure of their own on the English back line.

The final fifteen minutes was all England as they threw everything at the Japanese defence. Lily Owsley danced past two defenders and cut inside before firing wide while Danson’s reverse stick strike was tipped over the bar by the Japanese goalkeeper.

England forced two late penalty corners while Laura Unsworth also had a shot shaved as Japan dug deep and held firm to see out the remaining minutes and claim the win.

Kerry’s team now face Germany on Friday at 5pm UK time, live on BT Sport.

England: Maddie Hinch (GK), Laura Unsworth, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Webb, Susannah Townsend, Anna Toman, Sarah Haycroft, Emily Defroand, Sophie Bray, Nicola White, Alex Danson (C), Zoe Shipperley, Hannah Martin, Grace Balsdon, Lily Owsley, Shona McCallin, Jo Hunter
Sub (unused): Amy Tennant (GK)

Report courtesy of England Hockey

A brace from Sophie Bray guided England to victory over Poland in their opening Hockey World League Semi-Final clash in Johannesburg.

Bray’s double and a second half strike from Alex Danson saw England notch up a comfortable victory and get their campaign in South Africa off to the perfect start.

England’s dominant performance will give them confidence ahead of their upcoming pool A fixtures with Japan, Ireland and Germany as they battle to progress to the World League Finals in New Zealand later in the year.

It didn’t take long for England to make their mark on the match when Sophie Bray struck after just three minutes. After stealing the ball from a Polish defender inside the opposition area and darting past another, with only the keeper to beat the forward kept her composure and fired between the goalkeeper’s legs.

England continued to dominate and went close through Giselle Ansley’s drag flick and Lily Owsley’s strike before Bray found the net once again. Alex Danson found space at the top of the circle launching a strike at goal and Bray was on hand to get a clever touch in front of the goalkeeper to double the lead before the first break.

The second quarter saw England in total control of proceedings, owning the ball and playing with a lot of confidence, causing Poland problems while remaining solid in defence and were unfortunate not to lead by more at half-time.

Poland responded in the third quarter calling Maddie Hinch into action and she was equal to the task to keep England’s two goal lead intact. Shortly into the final quarter England put further distance between themselves and Poland, a fine team move released Danson in the circle and she lifted her effort over the goalkeeper on the reverse.

A mazy run from Danson saw her beat three players but she was then bundled to the ground and awarded a penalty stroke. However Giselle Ansley pushed her effort wide of the right post but this was to be the only blip of the game for England as they kept up their intensity to the end and secured victory.

Next up for England are Japan on Wednesday starting at 3pm UK time. Every game from the Women’s World Hockey League Semi-Finals is live on BT Sport.

England 3-0 Poland
Sophie Bray 3 (FG) 14 (FG), Alex Danson 45 (FG)

England XI: Maddie Hinch (GK), Laura Unsworth, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Webb, Susannah Townsend, Anna Toman, Sarah Haycroft, Emily Defroand, Sophie Bray, Nicola White, Alex Danson (C)
Subs (used): Hannah Martin, Grace Balsdon, Lily Owsley, Shona McCallin, Jo Hunter
Sub (unused): Amy Tennant (GK)

Report courtesy of England Hockey

Great Britain put in a stylish performance to seal a 5-1 win and take seventh place after mixed results at the Hockey World League Final in Rosario, Argentina.

The first quarter of this 7/8th place match between Great Britain and Korea was a battle for dominance in the centre of the pitch. The deadlock was broken by Nicola White (9′), whose run into the circle was unimpeded. Almost unable to believe her luck, the player smashed the ball deep into the far corner, past Korea ‘keeper Jang Soo Ji.

Kate Richardson-Walsh and Emily McGuire provided the cover, and any attempt by Korea to break out during this period of dominant play by Great Britain was cut out by the two experienced defenders.

Goal celebration by Alex Danson and Ellie Watton. (Photo: Frank Uijlenbroek)

It was Watton (29′) who doubled Great Britain’s lead – she was in the right position as Alex Danson brilliantly danced her way through the Korea defence. Danson slipped the ball across the face of the goal for Watton to shoot sharply home.

Great Britain got off to a fantastic start in the second half as Hannah MacLeod (33′) got a touch to a shot from Danson. This seemed to energise the whole team and the sixth-ranked team won a series of penalty corners, although they were unable to convert them.

A fifth penalty corner nearly yielded results as Crista Cullen flicked high. Jang saved, and was then nimble enough to make two subsequent saves as the Great Britain forwards tried to put the ball away.

There was finally success from a penalty corner in the 48th minute of the game. The ball was slipped to Nicola White who made no mistake as she put away her second goal and extended Great Britain’s lead to four.

The final five minutes saw Great Britain continue to flow forwards and the pressure paid off as Ellie Watton won a penalty stroke. Helen Richardson-Walsh made no mistake in slotting the ball home for her third goal of the competition. Korea came back into the game late on with a consolation goal when Han Hye Lyoung put away a penalty corner.

Head Coach Danny Kerry: “The tournament as a whole has been a good experience. The critical game was the China game where we created lots of chances but the ball wouldn’t go in. Against New Zealand,the first half was really disappointing and as a result we find ourselves playing for 7/8th place. There were other interesting results. Australia and Netherlands in the bottom half too, is interesting.

“We have built some good understandings among the younger players and I am very pleased with the way we played against Korea. They play in a certain way and we negated that. Crista [Cullen] is coming back and we wanted to protect her a little from getting injured but she will get a lot of time now. We had 10 penalty corners today, another day the scoreline would be different.”

The players now get three weeks off. Then we will have a lot of meetings and some good matches through the January, February, March period. Then there will be some refining.”

Crista Cullen: “Set pieces are something you just have to believe will come. I am increasingly getting myself into situations where I have the opportunity to score. I am not getting frustrated, I am just keeping my cool.

“We must now go back and review and understand what happened. There was a culmination of errors as to why we didn’t get a semi-final spot. We need to be hard on ourselves and learn from the mistakes. Come Rio we must be on the right end of the scoreline.”

Great Britain 5 (2)

Nicola White 9 (FG), 48 (PC)

Ellie Watton 29 (FG)

Hannah Macleod 33 (FG)

Helen Richardson-Walsh 58 (PS)

Korea 1 (0)

Hye Lyoung Han 58 (PC)

Great Britain are in action next summer against some of the sides featuring in the World League, as they take on the best five teams in the World at the Women’s Champions Trophy in London.

Great Britain starting XI vs. Korea

Report courtesy of GB Hockey

Olivia Merry’s last-minute strike for New Zealand sent the Blacksticks in to the semi-finals of the World League and condemned Great Britain to a dramatic defeat. Anita Punt had given New Zealand the lead in the first half but Helen Richardson-Walsh’s third goal of the tournament had the game seemingly headed for a shootout until Merry’s late intervention broke Great Britain hearts.

Helen Richardson-Walsh (Photo by Frank Uijlenbroek)

Great Britain showed their attacking intent from the first whistle with Susannah Townsend driving into the circle but just failing to find Alex Danson with her pass. At the other end Punt broke forwards down the left and found Petrea Webster inside the circle but Maddie Hinch was out quickly to block well. With just less than three minutes left in the first quarter New Zealand won the first penalty corner of the match. The injection was not stopped and although Punt got the shot away, Hannah Macleod made a fine block to avert the danger and it remained goalless at the break.

Punt was first to threaten at the start of the second quarter. She broke into the circle and was only halted by the advancing Hinch who cleared well with her stick. In the 22^nd minute, the Blacksticks took the lead. Hinch denied the New Zealand Captain twice in quick succession but with Great Britain unable to clear their lines the No32 was able to slot the third effort into the far corner for her first goal of the competition, her 87^th international goal.

Punt who was a constant threat and played in Kirsten Pearce for a clear shot at goal. Hinch extended a right leg to make a fine save. Great Britain won a penalty corner on the stroke of half time. Crista Cullen took the shot but Sally Rutherford watched it all the way and made the save.

At the start of the second half some superb 3D skills from Alex Danson freed Townsend down the left. Rutherford smothered the cross but with Danson closing in a foul was committed and a penalty corner was awarded. Cullen’s shot was charged down and it remained 1-0. Punt was shown a yellow card in the 44^th minute meaning Great Britain would start the final quarter with a player advantage as they sought to recover the deficit.

New Zealand pushed hard for a second goal in the final quarter. Charlotte Harrison stung Hinch’s gloves with a fierce shot that was bound for the top corner. As Great Britain threw caution to the wind in search of the equaliser gaps started to appear in defence. Pearce found herself clean through but Hinch did well to save again.

At the other end Danson broke free inside the circle but Rutherford got down well to block. Great Britain asked for a video referral, questioning whether there was a foul as Danson shot. A penalty stroke was given by the video umpire. Up stepped Helen Richardson-Walsh who made no mistake and levelled the scores with a low finish, her third goal of the competition.

New Zealand forced a penalty corner after some good work from Stacey Michelsen with the clock ticking down. Punt took the shot but Helen Richardson-Walsh was on hand to divert the ball over the bar. With the game seemingly headed for a shootout there was one final twist. Olivia Merry’s backhand strike found its way past Hinch at the near post to break Great Britain hearts and send New Zealand into the semi finals.

Great Britain will now take part in the classification matches, time and opposition to be confirmed. 

Danny Kerry, Great Britain Head Coach:  “We were quite naive and played some silly passes out of defence in the first half and then made a silly mistake at the end. It was a turn-over and the ball went through Maddie’s gloves. It was an accumulation of a lot of little things and that means the game gets away from you. We need players to be here and go through these experiences. There are some players at home who also need to be here to get the experiences for Rio. It’s all very well making excuses but international hockey is tough. We will debrief and look at our decision-making. The players now understand a little bit more about what this level is like. The younger players now get the tempo of the game and the heat of the quarter final format. They will probably play with a bit more nous and we won’t let games get away from us.”

Great Britain 1 (0)
Helen Richardson-Walsh 54 (PS)

New Zealand 2 (1)
Anita Punt 22 (FG)
Olivia Merry 59 (FG)

Great Britain starting XI vs. New Zealand

Report courtesy of GB Hockey

A 26^th minute strike from Helen Richardson-Walsh earned Great Britain their first win of the World League Final over World No2 Australia. After defeat to Argentina and a draw with China in the previous games Danny Kerry’s side needed a positive result and they produced that with a fine display against the Hockeyroos.          

The first five minutes were a case of cat and mouse as both sides took some time to settle into the match. Every time Danny Kerry’s side got the ball up to Alex Danson in the circle she found herself surrounded by Australian defenders, keen to snuff out the threat of the No15.

Great Britain’s Crista Cullen (photo: Ady Kerry)

With nine minutes on the clock the Hockeyroos won the first penalty corner of the match. Georgina Morgan took the honours but Crista Cullen charged the ball down with Laura Unsworth making an important block on the second phase.

Hannah Macleod broke through the middle of the Australia defence with Great Britain’s first clear sight of goal but her effort was blocked and the danger cleared. Right on quarter time Danny Kerry’s side were awarded a penalty corner. Cullen took the shot but Rachael Lynch was equal to the task and pushed it around the post to keep the scores blank at the break.

Australia forced another penalty corner in the second quarter. This time the ball wasn’t trapped cleanly. Jodie Kenny still got the shot in but Maddie Hinch got down well to block with her gloves.

Great Britain hit back and Danson was fouled by Renee Taylor resulting in a penalty corner. Kate Richardson-Walsh played the pass in for Danson to deflect but Ashlee Wells made a splendid save to keep the ball out.

It wasn’t long before Great Britain took the lead however. Danson did brilliantly along the baseline and cut inside. Her ball to the far post was turned in by Helen Richardson-Walsh for her second goal of the competition. Great Britain went in at the half time break ahead 1-0.

Five minutes into the second half Owsley showed terrific pace to get away from the defence but her placed finish was turned round the post by Lynch. Townsend then earned her side another penalty corner but Edwina Bone was out quickly to charge down the strike.

Owsley’s pace was causing Australia a lot of problems and Lynch had to get down smartly to block from Joie Leigh after another strong run from the University of Birmingham forward.

Bone’s defensive work on the penalty corners was in evidence once again as she charged down a shot from Cullen leaving GB still searching for the all-important second goal. Lynch was called upon again and made a superb double save to keep out a shot from Townsend and the follow up from Leigh. Despite the pressure Great Britain could not find a second goal before the end of the third quarter.

Danny Kerry’s side continued with their attacking intent and won another corner but yet again Bone got a stick on the ball and Cullen’s shot was deflected wide. Australia crept back into the contest and Ashleigh Nelson had a clear chance when the umpire played an advantage. Hinch did well and blocked at the near post.

At the other end Danson turned well and fizzed a backhand shot in that Wells had to deal with, saving strongly with her feet. Owsley somehow managed another lung-bursting run in the final moments, firing in a lovely diagonal ball that a sliding Townsend deflected onto goal forcing another save from Wells. Despite a late yellow card for Unsworth, Great Britain closed the game out and took the win.

Great Britain are next in action in the quarter finals. Opponents and match timings to be confirmed.  

Danny Kerry, Great Britain Head Coach: “I felt we controlled the game, but Australia defended their corners really well which kept the score line close. Australia always carry a threat but we controlled large periods of the game. I think we were trying to use Australia’s pressing to create chances and we had eight corners today to their two. That’s a threat but we turned it into an opportunity.

“After the China game the team realised that the tactics worked, it just didn’t go for them in that game and that certainly helped their confidence tonight.”

Kate Richardson-Walsh, Great Britain Captain: “We played with a lot more belief. We tried to do the same things in the first game but it just wasn’t clicking. Today we made the passes and it clicked. We have a pretty explosive side going forward and really skilful players and we had to get that working.

“There are a lot of players who have been in difficult situations before so we were able to call on that. But also, every training session we work on dealing with different pressures and that has really paid off. We do a lot of scenario based work where we have to figure it out for ourselves, so when we are under pressure as we were in patches of that game; we all know what we are doing.”

Final Result:

Great Britain 1 (1)
Helen Richardson-Walsh 26 (FG)

Australia 0 (0)

Great Britain starting XI vs. Australia

Report courtesy of GB Hockey

Great Britain were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by China in their second World League final match. Helen Richardson-Walsh gave Danny Kerry’s side the lead only for Mengyu Wang to cancel the goal out a minute later, leaving both sides on one point in Pool B after two games.      

Great Britain almost made a dream start as Susannah Townsend burst through in the opening seconds of the match but Dongxiao Li made a sprawling save to deny her. Danny Kerry’s side enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession, stringing together long spells of passes but they found it hard to get through the massed ranks of the Chinese defence and remained goalless at quarter time.

GB’s Alex Danson (Photo by Ravi Ghowry)

Danny Kerry’s side started the second quarter brightly and Hollie Webb and Lily Owsley both created chances with runs down the baseline but Alex Danson couldn’t quite apply the finish.  Great Britain won their first penalty corner of the match in the 25^th minute. Kate Richardson-Walsh played the pass towards Townsend but Mengyu Wang was alert and cleared the danger. Georgie Twigg showed good power and pace to drive into the circle but her cross bounced agonizingly out of the reach of the waiting forwards. Townsend carried the ball from inside her own half and slid the ball into the path of Lily Owsley but the No26’s shot was parried away by Li and it was goalless at the break.

Li made another save early on in the third quarter, getting her gloves to a deflection to keep it level. Great Britain thought they’d won a penalty stroke after Danson’s shot had hit a defender but China asked for a referral claiming the ball had hit the striker’s body in the build up. The referral was upheld and the decision downgraded to a penalty corner. China defended two successive corners well but with a third awarded Kate Richardson-Walsh’s pass was deflected into the roof of the net by a diving Helen Richardson-Walsh to break the deadlock.

GB’s Helen Richardson-Walsh (Photo by Ravi Ghowry)

The lead lasted a matter of moments as China won a penalty corner which was converted by Wang to level the scores. Yang Peng almost made it 2-1 with a driving run but she was thwarted by Maddie Hinch who blocked well at the near post. China showed a little more attacking intent in the third quarter but it was Great Britain who almost broke through when Helen Richardson-Walsh tried to play in Owsley who couldn’t quite collect the ball. It remained all square heading into the final 15 minutes.

Great Britain won a penalty corner in the first minute of the final quarter but once again the corner defence from the Chinese was solid and the danger was cleared. Peng flashed a pass across the face of Hinch’s goal as China hunted a winning strike but there was no one there to turn it in. With five minutes remaining China were awarded a penalty corner and Great Britain referred the decision to the video umpire. The referral was upheld and the corner overturned. At other end China conceded a penalty corner but Kate Richardson-Walsh’s pass was cut out and the chance went begging. Great Britain came agonizingly close to a winner. Hannah Macleod beat Li only for the shot to seemingly come off Danson’s stick and away to safety. China were clinging on in the closing moments and GB were awarded another succession of penalty corners with a minute left. Danny Kerry’s team were unable to break through and the game finished even.

Great Britain 1 (0)
Helen Richardson-Walsh 34 (PC)

China 1 (0)
Mengyu Wang 35 (PC)

Great Britain are next in action against Australia on Tuesday 8 December at 1715 UK time

Quotes – Danny Kerry, Great Britain Head Coach: “I thought the Chinese goal was just jinxed, the ball just wouldn’t go in tonight. A lot of those chances would normally have gone in. We needed just an element of luck.

Apart from a five minute period we absolutely controlled the game. China play a low risk defensive strategy and ironically the goal came when two of our players collided so we were a defender light. It was a game where we had lots of chances and given how deep China sat, it was always going to take a bit extra. I was proud of the team, they stuck at what we had to do and so on the whole I’m pretty pleased.

Yesterday we weren’t allowed to play. We were stopped by some good defending and we needed to be stronger. We wanted to play, we just weren’t allowed to. Australia will want to play more hockey than China so it will be interesting and we are really looking forward to it.”

Great Britain starting XI vs. Argentina

Report courtesy of England Hockey