Simpson brings inspiration

Hockey

Hockey

Rhona Simpson, the Scottish striker, came back from injury to score her 10th goal in 12 games to take Great Britain to a deserved 1-0 win against Spain, the Olympic champions, in Atlanta yesterday, writes Bill Colwill.

The teams had to endure temperatures well into the 80s as they fine-tuned their preparations for this summer's Olympic, and Britain dominated the first half, particularly in the midfield.

The goal came nine minutes from the end following a long corner. Tina Cullen, chipping the ball over a Spanish defender's stick, surprised the defence with a reverse stick centre, and Simpson was on hand to provide the finishing touch.

Britain play the United States today in the second of their three-Test series.

GREAT BRITAIN: H Rose (Sutton ); J Atkins (Bradford); S Fraser (Grove), K Brown (Slough), L Cope ( Leicester); M Davies (Sutton), P Robertson (Grove, capt), C Cook (Hightown); M Nicholls (Slough), R Simpson (Edinburgh), T Cullen (Hightown). Substitutes used: K Johnson (Leicester), T Miller (Clifton), S MacDonald (Glasgow Western).