Tearful end to golden quest

Nicola White (third from right) and the rest of the Great Britain hockey team cannot hide their emotions after their semi-final defeat at the hands of Argentina.

OLYMPIC HOCKEY:

 ...but Nicola and GB hockey girls can still win bronze

TEARS flowed as Oldham’s Nicola White and her Great Britain team-mates missed out on the chance of Olympic hockey gold.

Beaten 2-1 by Argentina last night, GB must instead focus on the bronze medal match against New Zealand tomorrow (3.30pm).

First-half strikes from Noel Barrioneuvo from a penalty corner and a field goal from Carla Rebecchi put the world’s number two side and Champions Trophy holders in command.

GB had all the possession in the second period, with 24-year-old Nicola prominent in many of the attacking moves.

But it wasn’t until the last five minutes that forward Alex Danson bundled home a cross from Helen Richardson.

Nicola’s mum Gill was in the 16,000 crowd looking on, along with the Duchess of Cambridge.

Gill said: “The atmosphere was unbelievable. We’re all so proud of Nicola and her team-mates, because they have achieved so much.”

Team members have today to recover from that game before playing the Kiwis for the bronze medal.






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