It was a loss and a draw for GB’s hockey teams at the Australian Youth Olympics on Thursday.

The men suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat at the hands of India at the Olympic Hockey Centre, Sydney, while the women enjoyed a convincing victory in difficult conditions, with temperatures above 40C, defeating the USA 4-2.

India 6 -1 GB

India’s men took the lead after seven minutes when captain Diwakar scored from a penalty corner.  The same player doubled the lead on 16 minutes when a penalty stroke was awarded, and duly converted, for an infringement in the GB circle.

Danish Mujjaba completed a tough first half for GB when he converted another Indian penalty corner on 26 minutes, giving the young Brits plenty to think about during the half time break.

The uphill battle became that bit harder when just three minutes into the second half, India’s Pramod Kumar scored, again via a penalty corner and the Indian lead was extended to five when the same player netted his second of the game on 46 minutes. 

With the prospect of a goalless game for GB looming, the team tried hard to stick to their patterns and game play and although they were unable to convert two second half penalty corner efforts, captain Nick Catlin popped up at the top of the Indian circle on 65 minutes to rifle a shot home past keeper Mrinal Chaubey.

 Despite Catlin’s goal for Great Britain the Indians showed they were not finished yet, Jay Karan tapping in from close range past Ian Scanlon a minute later to make the final score 6-1 to India.

Afterwards, Head Coach Bobby Crutchley noted: “It was of course disappointing to lose, especially by the margin we did.  However, this was a good Indian side which was able to exert their style of play and pressure on us. 

"We failed to retain enough decent possession or dictate any real passages of play upon the Indians, which made life a lot more difficult for us.  The most important thing for the squad now is to see how they react and perform versus Australia on Saturday”.

In the other pool match Australia came from behind to beat Malaysia 2-1 meaning that Great Britain still has a chance to qualify for Sunday’s gold medal match if they can overcome the hosts at Olympic Park on Saturday (start time 0900hrs local, 2200hrs GMT on Friday).

GB 4 – 2 USA

Great Britain started reasonably well with early chances falling to Sarah Page and Katie Long but it took good scrambling defence from Maddie Hinch in the GB goal and Dilly Newton to keep USA from scoring early on.

The first half was an evenly matched contest before some neat skills from Sophie Bray created an opening in the USA defence that she exploited to burst through to score high into the top corner.  From this point forward GB began to take control and their increasing pressure told as Jenny Hall scored a penalty corner rebound after 32 minutes to put GB two ahead at the break.

The GB women returned for the second half clearly determined to build on their two goal cushion, resulting in a dominant second half performance.  Nic White scored with an excellent strike into the top corner just three minutes into the second half before USA managed to pull one back as they scored from a GB defensive error in the 48th minute.

Rather than allowing their opponents the opportunity to haul themselves back into the game GB turned the screw on USA with repeated circle entries and a number of penalty corners. 

Jenny Hall scored again on 59 minutes to seal the victory and leave GB waiting on the outcome of the match between India and Australia. With Australia winning that match 3-2, Great Britain and Australia are locked together at the top of the group level on points, goal difference, and goals for and against. 

Two defeats for India and USA mean that Great Britain and Australia are guaranteed to meet again in the gold medal match on Sunday, after their final Pool match on Saturday.

Assistant Coach Karen Brown said, “Whilst at times we didn’t play particularly well it is always pleasing to pick up three points in these difficult playing conditions.  Having said that, the girls could not be faulted for their commitment and work rate in trying to put in place the things the coaches have asked them to do.”

Great Britain Youth women’s final Pool match is against Australia on Saturday at 1100hrs local time (0000hrs GMT).  The gold medal match on Sunday gets underway at 1300hrs local time (0200hrs GMT).

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WOMEN’S SQUAD

Started
Laura Bartlett (Scotland & Milne Craig Western)
Sophie Bray (England & University of Birmingham)
Susie Gilbert (England & University of Birmingham)
Jenny Hall (England & Canterbury)
Maddie Hinch (England & Loughborough University)
Dilly Newton (England & Clifton)
Harriet Pearce (England & Clifton)
Lauren Turner (England & Leicester)
Laura Unsworth (England & Loughborough University)
Becky Ward (Scotland & Dundee Wanderers)
Nicky White (England & Loughborough University)

Substitutes Used
Takara Haines (England & Trojans)
Katie Long (England & Leicester)
Sarah Page (England & University of Birmingham)
Georgie Twigg (England & Clifton)
Hollie Webb (England & Cannock)

MEN’S SQUAD

Started
David Beckett (England & Loughborough Students)
Nick Catlin (England & Loughborough Students)
David Condon (England & Loughborough Students)
Richie Dawson-Smith (England & Bowdon)
Marc Edwards (England & Loughborough Students)
Simon Faulkner (England & Loughborough Students)
Chris Gregg (England & Loughborough Students)
Johnny Kinder (England & Fareham)
Lewis Prosser (Wales & Team Bath Buccaneers)
Ian Scanlon (England & Hampstead & Westminster)
Ross Stott (Scotland & Kelburne)

Substitutes Used
Ben Arnold (England & Beeston)
Kenny Bain (Scotland & Kelburne)
Gordon McIntyre (Scotland & Kelburne)
Martin Scanlon (England & Loughborough Students)
Henry Weir (England & Loughborough Students)