COACH NEVILLE’S ‘DEVASTATED’ BY GUSCOTH’S INJURY BLOW
ENGLAND 90 SAMOA 24
ENGLAND coach Tracey Neville described the loss of star defender Layla Guscoth as “devastating”.
Wing defence Guscoth ruptured her Achilles tendon just 11 minutes into England’s 70-34 World Cup demolition of Scotland on Saturday.
Neville said: “We’re so disappointed she won’t be joining us on court for the rest of the tournament.
“She’s an amazing addition to our team and we’re all by her side, supporting her. It’s devastating that her journey in this World Cup is over.”
England had to battle through their emotions yesterday as they beat Samoa 90-24. They face Jamaica – who were beaten yesterday 55-52 by South Africa – in the next group phase today.
Star-shooter Jo Harten admitted she was in tears before the game because of Guscoth’s injury.
But she responded by nailing 39 goals on the trot, 31 of them before half time.
Harten said: “Layla’s an amazing person and an amazing player. I was crying in my room when we heard.
“But we know we’re going to be playing bigger teams this round and we are down to 11 now. We’re in this together and we know exactly what we have to do.”
Guscoth, 27, missed last year’s Commonwealth Games win after opting to DANIEL DUBOIS aims to be world champion by the end of next year after claiming the British heavyweight crown.
‘Dynamite’ knocked out Nathan Gorman with a huge right in the fifth round of an explosive display on Saturday night.
Promoter Frank Warren could hardly contain himself afterwards, hailing the 21-year-old the best heavyweight prospect on the planet. And the Londoner himself warned his rivals he is only going to get better after smashing up his former amateur sparring partner at London’s O2.
Dubois walked to his dressing room shouting “Who is next?” after handing 23-year-old Gorman his first defeat.
He is expected to defend his newly-acquired title in September but he has his eyes on bigger prizes already and believes Anthony Joshua’s defeat by Andy Ruiz has blown the division wide open. “It’s definitely a possibility that I could be world champion next year,” said Dubois.
“Now the division has opened up and the belts could soon be up for grabs. If I can get in there and knuckle down, I think I can definitely be in with a chance of getting a world title fight. Maybe that will be by the end of next year. I feel I’m the most exciting prospect in heavyweight boxing.”
Dubois has just 12 professional fights to his name but delivered against Gorman with a ruthless performance.
“I was definitely born for this,” Dubois said. “I don’t shy away from pressure. I embrace it. I feel there is more improvement.”
Dubois is a possible heir to the throne in the sport’s glamour division but it felt like a night of heavyweight royalty at the O2.
Tyson Fury walked distant cousin Gorman out while Frank Bruno stood with Dubois for the announcements after offering his support in the build-up. When asked if he could one day be as big as his hero Lennox Lewis, Dubois said: “Definitely.”
Defeated Gorman had no complaints afterwards.
“I hold my hands up, he was the better man,”he said.
“I will have to come again and I’m sure I will.”
Joe Joyce is eyeing up a fight with WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight champion Manuel Charr after he laboured to a points win over American Bryant Jennings. complete her qualification as a junior doctor instead.
Neville sang the national anthem yesterday with her arm around her injured player (right).
“The fact she’s a doctor meant that, whereas the other players wouldn’t have known their diagnosis, she knew exactly what she had done,” said Neville.