Great Britain women progressed through to a potential final place with a workmanlike win over
South Africa here at the Setanta Trophy in
Dublin this afternoon.
First half goals from Mel Clewlow and Alex Danson, and a second from Danson after the break, were enough to give GB the win and their first points.
Germany beat
Ireland later in the day with a single goal from Anke Juhn, which puts them at the top of the women’s table.
- Germany 6 points (+2), 2. Great Britain 3 points (+2), 3. South Africa 3 points (-1), 4. Ireland 0 points (-3).
Tomorrow (Friday) is a rest day and GB are next back in action on Saturday when they face Ireland. A win, or even a draw, should be enough to set them up for a rematch against Germany in the final on Sunday.
This has not been a good tournament for Great Britain’s men. After the setback against Canada yesterday, they played Pakistan. GB were 3-0 up after 25 minutes, with goals from Richard Mantell, Richard Alexander and Ashley Jackson. But then, somehow they let victory slip from their grasp. Surprisingly they looked a little jaded in the second half, as Pakistan repeated their trick of yesterday and came back from the dead. Abbas opened their account in the 43rd minute, followed five minutes later by the award of a penalty stroke, which was converted by Muhammad Saqlain. GB desperately hung onto their lead for a further ten minutes until Zubair found the net in open play. GB's hopes of picking up some points against a team, over which they have enjoyed some success in recent years, were shattered.
It was draws all round in the men’s tournament as Ireland and Canada fought out a 3-3 draw. Ireland were 3-1 until the 41st minute, when Ravi Kahlon and Peter Short scored goals that puts them in the running for a place in the finals.
- Pakistan 4 points, 2. Canada 4 points, 3. GB 1 point, 4. Ireland 1 point.
Our photograph shows Richard Mantell’s penalty corner strike evading the attentions of Ahmed Nasir in the Pakistan goal.
