GB’s men bow out but women battle for bronze
Maidenhead’s Hannah Martin promised that Team GB’s women would come out fighting in Friday’s bronze medal match after losing 5-1 to the Netherlands in yesterday morning’s semi-final.
The reigning champions won’t be able to defend the title they won at Rio in 2016 after they were crushed by a controlled, dominant display by the Dutch, who lost on penalties in that Olympic final five years ago.
GB found themselves four goals down before Maidenhead’s Giselle Ansley fired home from a penalty corner, but it proved nothing more than a consolation and Frederique Matla rubbed salt in the wounds with a fifth before the end.
Felice Albers put the Netherlands in front in the second quarter and doubled their advantage less than 60 seconds later through Marloes Keetels’
strike. Marloes Verschoor and Albers again extended the Netherlands’ advantage before Ansley drag-flicked the ball home from a penalty corner to reduce the arrears. Matla wrapped up the scoring in the 49th minute.
After the match, Martin said: “It's disappointing and it’s gutting to be in this position, but we’ve got to pick ourselves up and fight for that bronze.
“No excuses today. They’re a very strong team, we know that, but we’re disappointed to not get a result.”
Great Britain will face either Argentina or India in Friday’s bronze medal match, which gets underway at 2.30am UK time, with the gold medal match starting at 11am on the same day.
The British team included several Maidenhead residents, including Ellie Rayer, Shona McCallin, Hannah Martin, Maddie Hinch and Giselle Ansley.
W It was the end of the road for Team GB's men's hockey team as they lost 3-1 to India in the quarter finals on Sunday afternoon.
Marlow's Sam Ward scored his fifth goal of the competition to give GB hope, but India deservedly booked their place in the final four.