A strong Russian team has beaten the British Gas GBR Women’s Water Polo team 20-13 in a goal-laden FINA World League match today in Chelyabinsk.
A determined GBR team responded strongly with a hat-trick from Fran Clayton and goals from Chloe Wilcox. A good defence helped to bring the half time score to within two goals.
Ciara Gibson-Byrne scored GBR’s third hat-trick of the match early in the second half but the Russian attack dominated the rest of the period and the hosts extended their lead.
Further goals from Wilcox and Gibson-Byrne tied the final quarter to a 2-2 draw but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the match with Russia winning 20-13 (7-3, 3-5, 8-3, 2-2).
GBR and CN Mataro player Wilcox was top scorer with five goals and said: “We are disappointed not to have won, but there were some very good phases of play, in particular the second period which we dominated.”
The team, which included senior international debuts from City of Manchester players Rosie Huck and Katy Andrews, now look towards their final FINA World League qualifying game against Spain on 22 April in Manchester.