Great Britain Under-17 girls have drawn 8-8 with the Czech Republic in Nice, France, to remain undefeated in their European Games qualifying campaign.
Following on from their impressive 26-3 win against Portugal last night, the GB girls were unlucky not to get the better of the Czechs in what was a very tight game.
The eastern Europeans opened up a 4-3 lead at the end of the first, but GB fought back with the only goal of the second quarter to make it 4-4 at half-time.
It was then GB’s turn to take the lead in the third, with the team firing in four goals, including a well-taken penalty from GB captain Izzy Dean.
GB captain Izzy Dean scores a penalty
The Czechs were able to score twice, but it was GB who led 8-6 going into the all-important final quarter.
Unfortunately GB couldn’t add to their tally and it was the Czechs who found the net with two goals to level the game at 8-8.
Great Britain’s next game is against the hosts, France, this evening at 18:15 UK time.
It’s a match the girls should be confident of winning after beating France 15-5 recently in a warm-up tournament in Slovakia.
A victory would put them in a very strong position to finish in the top two places of Group A, which would guarantee them a spot in this summer’s European Games in Baku.
The GB girls are receiving lots of support in Nice
Goalscorers for Great Britain Under-17s v Czech Republic Under 17s: Grace Rowland (1), Fleur Kennedy (2), Hannah Edwards (1), Izzy Dean (1), Katherine Rogers (2) & Danica Brazier (1).
Overall tournament goalscorers for Great Britain Under-17s: Izzy Dean (6), Grace Rowland (6), Lucy Shaw (5), Fleur Kennedy (5), Danica Brazier (4), Katherine Rogers (3), Hannah Edwards (3), Bethany Ward (2).
Women’s Under-17 European Baku 2015 Games
Qualification Tournament, France
Group A
(Top two teams qualify for Baku)
Thursday, 12 March 2015:
18:00 Portugal 3-26 Great Britain
19:15 France 25-2 Switzerland
Friday, 13 March 2015:
09:00 Portugal 5-4 Switzerland
10:15 Czech Republic 8-8 Great Britain
18:00 Czech Republic 14-6 Portugal
19:15 France 13-12 Great Britain
Saturday, 14 March 2015
18:00 Switzerland v Czech Republic
19:15 France v Portugal
Sunday, 15 March 2015:
09:00 Switzerland v Great Britain
10:15 France v Czech Republic
Referees: CAN CIGER Gökhan (TUR); GERASIMOV Ognian (BUL); KUNIKOVA Martina (SVK); MATACHE Radu Sorin (ROU); RADICEVIC Vlaho (CRO)
(Thanks to Chris Dean)