GBR Water Polo team victorious against World Champions
The British Gas GBR Women’s Water Polo team stunned world champions Spain to win their final 2014 FINA World League match 9-7 in Manchester.
After a turbulent few months that saw the unexpected withdrawal of UK Sport funding followed by a gold medal playing as team England at the Commonwealth Championships, the British women were relentless as they out-worked their celebrated opponents for a deserved 9-7 (1-0, 3-1, 3-4, 2-2) victory.
Spain had gone unbeaten throughout their World League campaign, including a 13-5 victory over GBR in January, and had no intention of taking their foot off the pedal in their final match with 11 of their 13 world champions on show in Manchester.
But the Spanish couldn’t match the intensity or endeavor of their hosts and trailed for the majority of the match, pulling level in the final quarter before being defeated in the final minutes.
GBR player Angie Winstanley-Smith, who helped the team to qualify for their second consecutive European Championships earlier this year, said: “The way we celebrated tonight says it all. That was like a final for us.
“We’ve been through so much over the past few months that to come away with a result like this against the World Champions is brilliant. It shows what immense strength of character we have and how we’ve all pulled together. We’re not just a water polo team, we’re a family.
“Winning the Commonwealth Water Polo Championships earlier this month in Aberdeen was brilliant but tonight showed that we can also compete with the best in the world.
“We’re determined to show that team sports are worth investing in and we will take this momentum into the European Championships in the summer.”
The British were on the front foot from the outset with Ciara Gibson-Byrne bagging her first of four goals and the only score in a tight opening quarter.
The home side established a three goal lead in the second period as Kathryn Fowler scored from the pit on man-up before Manchester local Ella Chadderton added another two goals to put the crowd in raptures.
The Spanish fought back in the third quarter but the Brits kept their noses in front throughout as Gibson-Byrne scored twice and Lisa Gibson found the net with 0.1 second left on the clock.
The world champions drew level early in the final quarter with two quick-fire goals to pull the game back to 7-7 but the Brits endured as Winstanley-Smith won two penalties which Gibson-Byrne and Wilcox dispatched to secure a famous victory.
The Brits will travel to their second consecutive European Championships in Budapest in July, having finished seventh in Eindhoven two years ago.
