Hockey: Britain feel the heat but secure clash with Korea

Great Britain completed a hat-trick of victories at the Four Nations tournament in Cordoba by beating New Zealand 2-0 to finish top of the pool table.

In today’s final, Danny Kerry’s charges face Korea, who surprisingly defeated host side Argentina 5-1 in the later game. Scots Emily Maguire and Laura Bartlett were in the GB starting line-up, but Reading’s Beth Storry was back in goal in place of Abi Walker.

GB dominated the first-half with five penalty corners, and it was at the first one that a drag flick from Kate Walsh opened the scoring in 11 minutes. At the third set piece Alex Danson doubled the lead from a rebound after the initial shot from Crista Cullen was blocked. The strength-sapping heat and humidity of Cordoba took its toll on both sides, consequently there was no further scoring and GB finished comfortable victors.

Kerry, the GB head coach, said: “The game was played in incredible heat which I’m sure we’ll experience again in Rosario at the Champions Trophy next week. Throughout the game opportunities arose for both sides from mistakes, and in these conditions I think we did very well to maintain our concentration and keep a clean sheet.”

Meanwhile, Scotland recorded a comfortable 4-2 win over Russia yesterday to finish top of the lower pool in the women’s European Indoor Nations Championships in Denmark. The game was won in the first half. Becky Ward opened the scoring in seven minutes from a cross by Susan McGilveray, with the second bieng made by goalkeeper Nikki Cochrane, the 18-year-old Strathallan pupil who was making her Scotland debut. Her kick out fell to Amy Brodie, whose shot was saved but Nikki Lloyd was on hand to slip the ball home. Scotland went three up when Kareena Marshall played a diagonal ball to Ward, who deflected it past the goalkeeper.

The second-half was a combination of missed chances by Marshall, Nikki Kidd and Morag McLellan along with two goals for the Russians to bring them back into the contest. The result was sealed four minutes from the end, the ball broke to Marshall from a penalty corner, she crossed to McGilveray, who turned the keeper and slotted the ball home.

On the domestic front, Inverleith kept up their challenge for the Subway National League title with back-to-back victories over Western Wildcats (8-4) and CALA Edinburgh (12-5). Set- piece expert Adam MacKenzie was on target with seven goals. But Grove Menzieshill opened up a six-point lead at the top by taking nine points from their three games against VWS Dundee Wanderers, Glynhill Kelburne and Grange.