by Ben Saunders
at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre

BRITAIN forward Lily Owsley said the Olympic champions have “set the bar” now after a much improved weekend in the FIH Pro League saw them beat Belgium 2-0 yesterday a day after a creditable shootout defeat by Argentina after a 1-1 draw.

Owsley, one of just five in the GB women’s squad who won gold in Rio de Janeiro three years ago, scored in both games, with her team’s only goal against Las Leonas before her fourth-quarter strike yesterday provided the icing on the cake against the Red Panthers after Grace Balsdon gave Britain the lead by rifling a penalty corner opportunity high and mightily into the roof of the net.

And Britain, who have struggled to score goals up till now, finally delivered on some sumptuous attacking play from the likes of Hannah Martin and Sarah Robertson.

But it’s the combination of high skill and tenacity bordering on the manic from Owsley, who at just 24 has scored in winning Olympic and European Championship finals, that provides Britain’s most reliable attacking threat, particularly from her trademark surging runs.

“I guess I’m one of the more experienced ones in the team now, which wasn’t my role in the last cycle,” she said.

“I’ve always had a bit of fight in the dog, I’ve always been ultra-competitive so I don’t think whether I’m a leader or a newbie, I don’t think that competitive edge will ever leave me.

“I’d like to think it can be infectious. I’ll do whatever it takes to win and that’s what you need your senior players to do.

“We know we needed to just pull the trigger on those goals, convert some corners and stay defensively tight.

“Over the last few weeks it’s been coming together and that’s the team that we should see building from now.

“We’ve set the bar and we’re not going to go below that now.”

Mark Hager, who has been coach since January, said his players are now getting used to his regime.

“The girls are starting to get used to the way I want to play and our style,” the Australian said.

“Obviously being here the last month has helped us put those processes in in training. It took a while but it’s starting to pay rewards now.

“We’ve still got a long way to go, but I think the girls are starting to understand how we want to play and are starting to believe in it.”

There was double disappointment from Britain’s men, however, losing 4-0 to Belgium yesterday and 3-2 to Argentina on Saturday.

They almost pulled off a thrilling comeback against Argentina, with Sam Ward and Alan Forsyth scoring in the last four minutes for GB after going 3-0 down, but they fell just short.