David Ralph’s side made it two wins from two this weekend as the Pro League in London came to life with maximum points for Great Britain’s women.
Victories over the USA on Saturday and India on Sunday (both 3-2) gave us plenty of food for thought. Here are a few things I noticed or that piqued my interest.
Lily Owsley is a hell of a player.
You can sometimes take for granted what a good player Lily Owsley is. I mean, she has won an Olympic gold medal, a European gold medal and World Young Player of the Year, so it’s not a hot take to say what a special talent she is. However, as I say, you can sometimes forget. Owsley gave us a timely reminder of what she is capable of with a stunning solo goal to help see off the USA. If GB are to threaten the latter stages of the Olympic Games, Bristol’s finest will have a huge part to play.
Pace, pace, pace.
Looking at the options available to David Ralph going forwards, it is clear to see that one of their most potent attacking weapons is pace – and lots of it.
I’ve already mentioned Lily Owsley and the role she will play, but I’d also say Ellie Rayer’s speed on the break, Sarah Jones’ willingness to bust a gut to get forwards and Hannah French’s ability to break the lines and join in with those others will be key to a successful end to the Pro League and winning matches at the Olympics. Breaking down any defence is difficult in international hockey, but when Great Britain take the handbrake off and go at speed, they are a very different proposition.
Who’s number one?
It’s a crying shame that just as Sabbie Heesh was making the No1 jersey her own and playing some of the best international hockey we’ve seen from her, she picked up an injury and had to have surgery. I know behind the scenes they are doing everything they can to get Heesh back in time for Paris, but we have to face the harsh reality that she may not make it. If that’s the case, it looks like a straight shootout between Miriam Pritchard, Amy Tennant and Jess Buchanan.
Pritchard on the face of it appears to be in the driving seat, as she played both games this weekend with Tennant sat on the bench. The Hampstead and Westminster goalkeeper did quite well. She might be disappointed with a couple of the goals, but she also made a few good saves and didn’t look overawed by it all. I’d like to see Tennant and Buchanan given a go in the upcoming matches, not because Pritchard has done anything wrong, but merely to see what they can do.
Who’ll play up front?
It’s hard to have any sort of discussion around the teams and who plays without some sort of acknowledgement of the looming Olympic Squad selection. I’ve already mentioned that I think GB need to utilise their pace in attack, but I also think they need a focal point up front. Tess Howard is the obvious choice for that role – her hold up play and ability to get shots away in tight spaces is a skill few players in the GB set up can match. However, I’d say Charlotte Watson did her case no harm at all this weekend, slotting in a penalty stroke and scoring from close range with an ice cool finish. Another interesting one to keep an eye on.
Character and control.
I’m sure David Ralph and his coaching team will have mixed feelings coming out of this weekend. It is very positive that they were able to show the character needed to dig in and get the two wins – especially in the India game where they retook the lead immediately after India drew level. Undoubtedly the fight and determination to do that should be praised.
What they won’t be happy about is how much control they ceded in both those games. USA are bottom of the Pro League and India are third from bottom. I’d imagine the GB coach is not thrilled at spending large spells of these matches on the back foot. I have no doubt a more settled side will put together more complete performances, but time is running out to find that formula.
Yeager Bomb.
Before the GB vs USA match on Saturday, the US coach David Passmore said these games would be tricky with the Olympics coming up and teams not wanting to show their hand too early. So I was quite interested when they took the lead with a drag flick from Elizabeth Yeager. If people weren’t aware before that the USA have a potent penalty corner weapon up their sleeve, they are now. And if you think I wrote about the USA in an article about GB, just so I could make the Yeager Bomb joke, you are absolutely correct. I regret nothing.
So there are a few things to think about and few things that caught my attention this weekend. I’m very much looking forward to the upcoming games and seeing how the teams take shape during those.
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