Water Polo: Brits shine in final VISA International group match

May 6, 2012

The British Gas GBR Women’s Water Polo team underlined their Olympic potential as they pushed USA all the way in their final group game of the VISA International on Saturday.

After slipping to an early 4-0 deficit, the Brits fought their way back into the match, pulling within one goal for much of the second half before an agonising 7-6 defeat.

The Americans, who have medalled at every Olympics since the women’s game was included in 2000, are one of the favourites for gold at London 2012 and had won both their group games at the VISA test event with Australia and Hungary.

But with a partisan crowd behind them, the Brits matched their experienced opponents in every part of the pool.

And while the final equaliser ultimately evaded them, British head coach Szilveszter Fekete agreed it was his team’s finest performance of the competition.

“I think today was a really good game for us,” said Fekete. “We showed good concentration, good fight, good discipline. We stayed organised throughout in defence.

“We started a little bit nervously, perhaps that was down to emotions in our first game against the USA. But after that I think we were equals with the World Cup champions and one of the big favourites for the Olympics so I’m very happy.”

“That was so amazing,” said Frankie Snell who scored a hat-trick. “The crowd were really unbelievable. Playing in front of that many people really lifts you up.

“It was such a good fight from all the girls in the team. To come back from four goals down and how we clawed our way back into it was brilliant and although we did lose it was such a good result for us.”

Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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Water Polo: Brits shine in final VISA International group match

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