GB will fight for fifth after falling to Champions Trophy defeat

BySportsbeat

Published 25/06/2016 at 19:18 GMT

Great Britain women will contest the fifth-sixth play-off at the Champions Trophy after slipping to defeat against Australia and Sam Quek admits the squad need to show their character and end on a high.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

A clinical Australian outfit took their chances to record a 4-1 victory at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre on Saturday afternoon and clinch their spot in the bronze medal match.

GB required a three-goal victory to play off for bronze but instead it was the Hockeyroos who triumphed by that margin, meaning Danny Kerry's troops will take on New Zealand for fifth spot at 2pm on Sunday.

With the rain hammering down, Australia raced into a 2-0 lead as Kathryn Slattery touched in a penalty corner on five minutes and barely 60 seconds later Georgie Park deflected Karrie McMahon's pass home.

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Sophie Bray did narrow the deficit to 2-1 by half-time when she converted Helen Richardson-Walsh's cutback but another quick-fire double from the visitors early in the second half sealed the result.

First, Emily Smith found space at the far post to slam in Brooke Peris' cross at the second attempt before Jodie Kenny converted a textbook penalty corner.

Great Britain did have chances to close the gap as the game went on but were unable to convert those opportunities to goals and Quek conceded the end product is leaving a lot to be desired – something they will need to correct if they are to beat New Zealand.

"We just feel utterly disappointed. It is our responsibility to make the chances, create the play and give the crowd something to shout about," said Quek.

"We are doing the right things but it is just final product that isn't there. We've had a few penalty corners and Australia had three or four and scored them.

"We need to focus on putting them away as it makes a difference. I feel like I am repeating myself after each game but the bottom line is we need to give everyone something to cheer about tomorrow.

"We need to fight, make those tackles so no one goes through us and we need to show character."

Sportsbeat 2016

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