Both Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams suffered defeats against Australia in the last of the pool matches in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney earlier today.
In the men’s match Australia took the lead late in the first half and GB went into the break 1-0 down. Kelburne’s Kenny Bain managed to equalise from a penalty corner four minutes after the restart, but it was not long before Australia re-gained their lead. Bain re-ignited GB’s hopes with an equaliser from open play but the Australian’s had the last word with a Toby West penalty corner conversion. Final score 3-2 to Australia. GB’s men now meet Malaysia in the 3rd/4th place match tomorrow (Sunday).
GB women already had their place in the final against Australia booked before today, so the meeting of the two sides was something of a formality. Canterbury’s Jenny Hall started the scoring with an early goal from open play only to see her goal cancelled out later in the half. Australia briefly took the lead before Georgie Twigg equalised just before the half-time whistle. Going into the second half at 2-2, two late second-half penalty corners put pay to any chance of a GB draw. Final score 4-2 to Australia. The two teams meet again in the final tomorrow.
ENGLAND’S WOMEN PLAYED SPAIN in the last of a three match series yesterday, Holly Cram scored England’s only goal in a 1-1 draw.
