Hockey: Impressive fightback brings women some consolation

OLYMPIC GAMES

Great Britain 1 Netherlands 1

Great Britain's women bounced back from their opening 5-0 defeat by Korea when they recovered from going a goal down after 11 minutes for a creditable draw against the Netherlands.

In a hard, uncompromising game, the Dutch took the lead from their first penalty corner. Hilary Rose blocked Wietske de Ruiter's initial powerful shot, but with Kath Johnson slow to clear off the pads, Jeannette Lewin slipped in to snatch the lead.

Although Britain were unable to take advantage of the Dutch being reduced to 10 players following temporary suspensions to Carole Thate and Noor Holsboer for nearly half the first period, they were back on terms seven minutes into the second half.

Rhona Simpson won a penalty stroke following a scramble in the Dutch goalmouth after Jill Atkins' penalty-corner strike. Hightown's Chris Cook beat Jacqueline Toxopeus from the spot. As the game swung from end to end, a tremendous battle developed between Karen Brown and the Dutch centre- forward, Ellen Kuipers, Brown coming out on top.

Some resolute defending set Britain up for the third game today against the United States, who yesterday had a stunning 3-2 win against Korea. The Australians, favourites to win gold, gave another impressive performance in beating Argentina, the world No 2, 7- 1 with a hat-trick from Alyson Annan.

GREAT BRITAIN: H Rose (Sutton Canada Life); J Atkins (Bradford Swithenbank, capt); S Fraser (Bonagrass Grove), K Brown (Slough), K Johnson (Balsam Leicester); P Robertson (Edinburgh), M Davies ( Sutton Canada Life), T Miller (Clifton); J Sixsmith (Sutton Canada Life), R Simpson (Edinburgh), M Nicholls (Slough). Substitutes used: C Cook (Hightown), A Bennett (Slough).

NETHERLANDS: J Toxopeus; N Holsboer; W Duyster, D van der Boogaard, J Lewin; C Thate, F Steenberghe, J Teeuwen; M Donners, E Kuipers, W de Ruiter (capt). Substitutes used: F van de Kieft, N Koolen, S Plesman, S van der Wielen.

Umpires: P Buckley (Australia) and Mi Ok Lee (Korea).