On a cold and wet night in Dublin, Great Britain won the first of their three Tests at the University College Dublin, 5-0.  The first half saw a brace of goals for Alex Danson, one for Sarah Thomas and one for captain Kate Walsh. 

The Brits controlled the first half with Ireland struggling to penetrate the GB circle, their best chance of scoring coming in the 22nd minute when their only penalty corner of the half came to nothing.

At the other end, Kerry Williams was unable to get hold of a cross on the far post in the 8th minute and Rebecca Herbert put a reverse shot past the post two minutes later.

Thomas opened the scoring picking up a rebound off the keeper.  In the 28th minute Walsh converted a penalty corner and Danson scored twice in three minutes with carbon copy goals, deflecting the ball high into the net from hits into the circle – the first from Walker and the second from Cullen.

The second half was a little disappointing as GB failed to capitalize in the final third.  The Irish played with more composure and fed off some GB defensive mistakes.  In the 50th minute, Wright, in open space at the top of the circle, scored GB’s fifth.  GB failed to convert any of their four second half penalty corners and although Ireland themselves won four corners – one of them in over time – they were unable to score.

Head Coach Danny Kerry said “A good first half with lots of penetration and some excellent taking of chances by Alex Danson.  A sloppy and unacceptable second half undid all the good work of the first half”

Source: GB Hockey ltd.