Britain were missing a host of key names, including forward Alex Danson, out with a shoulder injury picked up in the recent Olympic hockey test event.

Crista Cullen also sustained an injury in that tournament, and Britain missed her incisiveness from penalty corners.

Kate Walsh was another who did not feature in Danny Kerry's line up, and it showed, as Britain failed to replicate the showing they put on when they crushed South Africa 5-1 in a recent friendly game.

They were also not helped by the driving rain on an unseasonally cold and wet day in West London.

World number 12 South Africa went in front early on, when the ball was played by captain Marsha Marescia to Sulette Damons, lurking dangerously on the edge of the penalty area.

She was left with far too much time and space by the British defence, and fired a fierce effort past Beth Storry.

Britain tried to rally but were instead hit by another sucker punch as South Africa scored with an incisive counter attack.

Bernadette Coston was then played clear on goal by a piercing pass from Marescia, who had run from deep, and the forward kept her head well to place a shot into the top corner of the goal.

Britain were getting themselves into good areas and later in the half won themselves a penalty corner, but struggled to find their usual fluidity.


In the second period they continued to plug away but could not find an incisive finish to their approach play.

South Africa made them pay as they stretched the advantage to three, with another swift counter attack down the right hand side.

The ball was eventually crossed into the centre and turned in from close range by Jen Wilson.

Britain kept battling away but were unable to build a platform on which to launch a comeback until it was too late.

They had seemed set though to pull one back when Rebecca Herbert and Laura Bartlett found themselves two on one with the South African defence.

Herbert's pass could not quite play in Bartlett though, and when the ball came back to her, she could only fire over.

Susie Gilbert was the player who seemed most capable of making something happen and forcing the issue late on, and she got the goal she deserved with five minutes left when she turned in a dangerous ball across goal.

Coach Danny Kerry (pictured below) was not happy with the result, and made his disappointment clear after the game.

"They had four circle penetrations, three shots and two goals in the first half," he said.

"They were stupid goals, we were too high.

"Beth is very disappointed at those shots going in.

"We had to go after the game and I thought we did that really well.

"We battled hard and had a lot of penetration, and South Africa dug their trenches really well.

"I cannot criticise the girls for their performance in the second half."


Quizzed by insidethegames on the impact of losing so many key players, Kerry (pictured) insisted that had little to do with the result.

"We did enough in the game to get something out of it," he said, adding that "missing 25 per cent of the Olympic squad is a tough ask."

Helen Richardson, captain in the absence of Walsh, said that the conditions were not conducive to their game.

"I think our game is built around speed, and the conditions today did not allow that," she said.

"It turned into a fight in the middle of the pitch and it slowed the game down."

For South African coach Fabian Gregory, he was delighted with his team's showing.

"It was a fantastic win in difficult conditions," he said.

"Our defence was outstanding, as they put us under pressure at times, and while we would have liked more opportunities, we took our chances."

Meanwhile world number one the Netherlands defeated Australia in the first match of the tournament this afternoon.

An entertaining first half ended 0-0, with neither side able to put the finishing touch to any of their impressive passing movements.

Ashleigh Nelson, on her 100th appearance, thought she had put Australia in front early in the second period but the umpire gave a penalty corner rather than a goal.

The Aussies did not have to wait long to go in front though, with Jade Close playing a ball across for Emily Smith, who made no mistake from close in.

The Olympic champions were rattled but shot back immediately after they won two penalty corners, and from the second Maartje Paumen, the captain, finished emphatically.

Soon after a penalty stroke was awarded, and Paumen was again on hand to sweep home the winner.

"It was our first game in a few weeks and I am very happy, especially with the performance in the second half," said coach Max Caldas afterwards.

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