Great Britain Under-17s v Germany Under-17s

Baku 2015 European Games Qualifier

Valletta, Malta

Great Britain’s opening qualifier ended in disappointment on Thursday as they were beaten 19-7 (5-2, 2-2, 8-3, 4-0) by a very strong German side.

Despite some great support in the stands at the Tal-Qroqq Sports open-air pool near Valletta in Malta, Team GB struggled to deal with Germany’s speed, power and strength.

In the first quarter, the Germans raced into an early 2-0 lead before Kamz Powell halved the deficit for GB.

Scott Wilson then had a chance to level, but his penalty was expertly saved.

Germany responded by adding two more powerful finishes as their dominance began to show.

Ben Riding was able to make it 4-2, but another well-worked Germany man-up made it 5-2 at the end of the first.

The second period was a more even affair as GB coach Craig Figes’ team talk appeared to have the desired response.

Germany did manage to extend their lead, but then Enfield’s Charlie Briers produced a fabulous turn and finish from 2m to make it 6-3.

The Germans found the net yet again, but it was Spencer Wilks who had the final say of the half.

After receiving a superb pass from Hamish Hudson, Wilks arrowed a shot into the top corner to make it 7-4.

In the third, Germany threw all their big-hitters in and gradually took the game away from GB with four unanswered goals.

Sam Alberici did capitalise on a GB man-up to score from deep, but back came the Germans with two quick breaks to make it 13-5.

Ben Riding then added his second of the night, but again Germany found acres of space to hammer home.

A deft lob from Charlie Briers brought some brief respite for GB, but the superior Germans countered once more to make it 15-7 at the end of the third.

The final period saw Great Britain fade somewhat and miss their second penalty of the night.

Four fast and powerful breaks from the Germans put a gloss on the result for our European neighbours as they ended up triumphing 19-7.

And it could have been a lot worse for GB had it not been for some wonderful saves from keeper Owain Llewellyn.

The second game on Thursday saw Latvia thrashed 51-0 in their opening match against hosts Malta.

Great Britain face Latvia and Switzerland tomorrow and realistically need to win both to be in with a chance of finishing in the top two and guaranteeing themselves a spot in this summer’s Baku 2015 European Games.

Great Britain Squad & goalscorers v Germany: James Barker, Owain Llewellyn, Ben Tinkler-Davies, Ashley Castle, Spencer Wilks (1), Kamz Powell (1), Sam Alberici (1), Ben Riding (2), Hamish Hudson, James Warman, CHARLIE BRIERS (2), Scott Wilson and Ben Greenhill.

Remaining fixtures:

Thursday, 12 March 2015:

17:00 Germany 19 -7 Great Britain
18:15 Malta 51-0 Latvia

Friday, 13 March 2015:

09:00 Latvia 0-53 Great Britain
10:15 Switzerland 4-20 Malta
17:00 Germany 67-2 Latvia
18:15 Great Britain 12-1 Switzerland

Saturday, 14 March 2015

17:00 Germany v Switzerland
18:15 Great Britain v Malta (Delayed stream 19:30 Malta time: Click Here)

Sunday, 15 March 2015:

09:30 Malta v Germany
10:45 Switzerland v Latvia

Referees: ACHLADIOTIS Spyridon (GRE); MARES Ivo (CZE); MELNICOV Serghei (MDA); SANADZE Irakli (GEO); VAN DER LOO Peter (NED)

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Live Updates (No timings available):

FIRST QUARTER:

Germany race into two goal lead, but Kamz Powell pulls one back for GB.

Scott Wilson then misses a penalty and the chance to level.

GOAL! Germany find the net again to make it 3-1.

GOAL! Another breakaway goal for the Germans – 4-1.

Germany keeper excluded, Craig Figes calls a time-out.

GOAL! Ben Riding makes it 4-2 with a fine shot into the top corner on man-up.

GOAL! Germany score from their own man-up to make it 5-2 and that’s the end of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER:

Germany have a man-up, but the shot is blocked in front of goal.

GOAL: Germany extend their lead through a fast break down the left. 6-2

GB miss the chance to capitalise on a man-up and Germany break.

Fine save by Owain Llewellyn, GB back on the attack.

GOAL! Charlie Briers turns in the pit and GOAL! 6-3.

Fantastic skill by the Enfield player on 2m.

GOAL! Fast break from Germany and it’s 7-3.

GOAL! Man-up for GB and they make it count through Spencer Wilks, after a fine pass from Watford’s Hamish Hudson. 7-4

Germany find themselves 3 on 2 in attack, but their shot strikes the post. And that’s half-time. 7-4.

THIRD QUARTER:

The third quarter is underway and Germany win the swim-off.

GOAL! Shot from deep beats Owain Llewellyn and nestles in the corner. 8-4

GOAL! Germany’s strength beginning to show. A fast break down the right leads to another goal. 9-4.

GOAL! Germany No10 wide open in the middle and scores with ease. 10-4.

GOAL! Germany man-up and GOAL. 11-4. Germans dominant.

GB struggling to get into this quarter and keep getting pinned back.

GOAL! But GB get their first man-up of the quarter and it’s Sam Alberici who slams in from distance to make it 11-5.

GOAL! Penalty to Germany. Fired in low and the shot finds the bottom left corner. 12-5.

GOAL! Germany No10 again left free on 4m and he makes no mistake to make it 13-5.

GOAL! Great Britain man-up and Ben Riding hammers home from wide left to beat the keeper 13-6.

GOAL! Germany steal the ball deep in their own half and swim the length of the pool to fire past Owain Llewellyn 14-6.

GOAL! Great Britain respond with a beautiful lob by Charlie Briers to make it 14-7.

GOAL! Just before the buzzer, Germany score again to make it 15-7 at the end of the third.

What a quarter by the Germans, who win it 8-3.

FOURTH QUARTER:

GOAL! Germany score the first goal of the final quarter with a strong backshot from centre 16-7.

Owain Llewellyn stops another Germany effort and starts a GB attack, but it comes to nothing.

Penalty for GB. Miss – fine save from the German keeper as he dives to his right.

GOAL! Germany respond with a quick attack down the right and shot which beats Owain Llewellyn’s right hand. 17-7.

GOAL! Germany fire in from deep with a stunning goal just inside GB’s half. The ball flies into the top right corner. 18-7.

GOAL! Germany moving the ball strongly and find acres of space down the left to make it 19-7.

Owain Llewellyn saves a one-on-one right at the death to deny the Germans a 20th goal.

But that’s it, Germany win a very one-sided match 19-7.