There was a great atmosphere in the Liverpool Aquatics Centre last night as the British Gas Women’s Water Polo team took on France in the first of three matches.
Playing against a team from the European ‘A’ Championships was a tough prospect for the LEN European ‘B’ Champions, but with strong home support the British Gas side entered the match confidently.
Getting off to a slow start, the match saw only a handful of shots on goal and by half time the teams were tied at 4-4.
After the break the British Gas team entered the pool with a renewed vigor creating more chances on goal. Good attacking play from Britain’s Hannah Wild and some excellent goals from Fran Leighton saw Britain push ahead and finish the match 11-7.
World Class Programmes Manager, Joanna Wray, said: “Overall the match was good, we didn’t play at our best but it is the first time the juniors have come back together to play with the senior squad since their respective Europeans.
“The last time we played France was in a competition in January where we beat them in the preliminaries 8-7 but then lost to them in the final 4-7.
“Hopefully the result yesterday and the game today and tomorrow will show we have taken this next step above them to beat them consistently.”
The British Gas team will now face the French side tonight and tomorrow in Manchester as they continue to prepare for the European A qualifying competition to be held next April.
Matches are free to attend and anyone wishing to support the team should turn up at the venue.
6pm Friday 30th October, Manchester Aquatics Centre
4pm Saturday 31st October, Manchester Aquatics Centre
-ENDS-
The team, and everyone at British Water Polo, would like to thank the City of Liverpool Water Polo Club for their help in coordinating the match.
For further details contact Lauren Sanderson, British Swimming Media Assistant, on 01509 632236 or email lauren.sanderson@swimming.org.
About British Swimming
British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain. It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (ASA), Scotland (Scottish ASA) and Wales. (Welsh ASA) British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
About British Gas
British Gas is Britain's favourite domestic energy supplier. As well as providing gas and electricity, it also installs and maintains central heating and gas appliances in millions of homes throughout the country. British Gas is very proud to be the principal partner of British Swimming and home countries: The ASA, Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales. British Gas is supporting the team's quest for medals on the world and Olympic stage - and giving as many people as possible the opportunity to learn to swim and use swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. British Gas wants to ensure local pools remain at the heart of our communities. By using its expertise, it can help them reduce costs by being more energy efficient and safeguard the facilities for this and future generations. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming
About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.
