Team GB miss last chance for glory

Published on Wednesday 29 September 2004 01:46

GREAT Britain’s boccia quartet of Nigel Murray, Peter Pearse, Susie Robinson and Anne Woffinden have missed out on what would have been a final medal of the Athens Paralympics in the mixed team event yesterday.

The BC-1 BC-2 team reached the semi-finals but were edged out by Portugal, who went on to win the gold medal. Britain lost 7-5 to Spain in the bronze medal play-off.

Earlier, the men’s wheelchair basketball team banished their Sydney demons on the final day of the Games by clinching bronze with victory over the Netherlands.

The medal secured was Britain’s 94th and saw Team GB finish second in the medal table behind China, who ran away with the overall title with 141 medals.

Alan Titmuss’ side recovered from a poor start to edge ahead and then turned on the style in the third and fourth quarters, ultimately winning by a comfortable 82-66 margin at the Olympic Indoor Hall.

The victory erased painful memories of four years ago when the British team’s medal dreams were shattered at the same stage by the USA in the final seconds.

The final buzzer this time was greeted by jubilant scenes among the players and British contingent in the 6,355-strong crowd. "If ever there was payback this is it," said Titmuss after his sides 16-point victory. "That defeat four years ago took months to get over. This is a great feeling. Now we can finally put that behind us."

Like many in the squad, Londoner Ade Adepitan lived through the agony of that 2000 defeat. "That was definitely in the back of everyone’s minds," said the quarter-final hero. "We knew we didn’t want to lose this one. Before the game everyone was really quiet and calm and focused. We have stayed together as a team because we wanted a Paralympic medal and we’ve finally got one. It’s justice for us."

For all it was a team effort, victory owed much to another guard in Jon Pollock.

The Wigan man had been criticised in some quarters for giving away too many turnovers earlier in the tournament, but yesterday in his final game for Britain he put up a commanding performance, playing all but 16 seconds of the game, dictating much of GB’s attacking play, and top-scoring for the team with 31 points.

"I’ve dreamt of winning a Paralympic medal for 12 years, since I started the playing the game," said the 27-year-old. "And to end my international career with a medal, I am over the moon."

The Paralympics ended last night with a closing ceremony which was cut short as a mark of respect after seven students died yesterday in a road accident on their way to watch the Games.