Friday, September 22, 2000
Hockey News Online

Victory at last for women

THE Great Britain women’s team at last picked up the Olympic beat here today with a spirited performance against Spain. An overdue first victory thanks to second-half goals from Mel Clewlow and Tina Cullen delighted their vociferous supporters but came too late to keep them in the medal hunt.

”If we had played the hockey we played tonight in the first three games we would have gone through,” Jon Royce, the head coach, said. He was right, but admitted his players had only performed when there was little at stake. The British had watched gloomily the previous evening as Spain’s victory over Argentina extinguished any hopes of reaching the last six.

Britain, who brought in Fiona Greenham for the injured Kath Johnson at the back, dominated a limited but obdurate Spanish side. They created chances throughout with Jane Sixsmith missing from close in and Jane Smith shooting over in the first-half and Clewlow had two short corner goals disallowed for high hits. Clewlow finally found the target after 48 minutes and apart from the odd foray impressively repelled by Carolyn Reid in goal it was a question of by how many goals Britain would win. Cullen answered that near the end after Spain had failed to deal with Clewlow at another corner.

Britain had picked up from where they had left off against South Korea, when two late goals saved a draw, rather than repeat the lacklustre play that had bedevilled a troubled campaign. “I have learned a lot of lessons from being here,” Royce said, responding to criticism that he was feeling the pressure. “Perhaps I didn’t realise what a difficult tournament this was.” He regretted swearing at a doping control official earlier this week which brought him a one-match ban. “The changing room is an emotive place after a match,” he said. “I have not apologised to the woman because I haven’t seen her.”

Joining Britain among the also-rans are Germany and Korea, who were expected to do better, and they leave an unpredictable medal pool of Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Holland, Argentina and the surprises, China, to fight for the prizes. For Britain, classification matches against South Africa on Monday and either Germany or the Koreans on Wednesday will bring at best seventh place. After bronze in 1992 and fourth place in 1988 and 1996, it is little cause for celebration.

David Chappell
The Times