Hockey: GB women win bronze medal
Great Britain’s women hockey side have won a bronze medal after beating New Zealand 3-1 in the bronze medal match.
Goals from Sarah Thomas, Crista Cullen, and Alex Danson secured GB women’s hockey first medal at an Olympics since Barcelona in 1992, where they also won a bronze medal.
The hosts, who were unlucky in defeat to world champions Argentina in the semis, started the game confidently and always looked in control against the Kiwis. Despite their bright start Britain couldn’t find a way through in the opening period as the two teams went in at the break all square.
When the goal did come it was surprise to see Danson being the architect. The Reading forward has been one of the shining lights from the women’s tournament this year and showed her skills by flicking home a penalty corner with 45 minutes gone. It was the least she and Britain deserved.
New Zealand tried to rally a comeback but rarely looked threatening with their direct approach being dealt with easily by skipper Katie Walsh, who has played through the tournament despite breaking her jaw in the opening game.
With 11 minutes remaining Britain made the game safe and gave the Riverbank Arena plenty to cheer as a well worked penalty corner routine resulted in Cullen flicking home from close range.
There was time for Thomas to add a third before Stacey Michelsen's netted a consolation for the visitors.
It mattered little though as the GB women celebrated a well-deserved medal, despite the colour of it being bronze rather than an expected gold.
The gold medal match was won later in the evening by Netherlands, who overcame Argentina 2-0.
Goals from Maartje Paumen and Carlien Dirske made sure that the Dutch won the Olympic gold for the third time in their history.
Today at the Games
Fred Evans leads Team GB gold rush
Bahamas beat United States in men’s 4x400 metres relay
Lutalo Muhammad clinches bronze medal
Two silvers in 470 class
More Olympic heartache for Shanaze Reade
Tom Daley through to first round
Ed McKeever books place in Saturday's final
Russia make men’s volleyball final
Medals table
Lewis Jones
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