A stunning hat-trick from Alex Danson proved decisive for Great Britain to hand Danny Kerry’s team their first win of the tournament and fifth place in the competition.
Despite goals from Anita McLaren, Olivia Merry and Kelsey Smith, the Blacksticks were condemned to the wooden spoon.
Fellow Bristolians, Georgie Twigg and Joie Leigh also featured for Great Britain.
Great Britain started the match with a real hunger and it wasn’t long until the deadlock was broken. Bray was involved, threading a lovely pass into the circle for Danson to slam in a backhand strike to make it 1-0.
New Zealand hit back early in the second quarter and levelled the scores. The ball broke to McLaren inside the circle and she needed no second invitation to smash home a lovely finish to make it 1-1. Parity was restored for just four minutes, until Danson crossed for Owsley who slotted home at the second attempt to make it 2-1 at the half time interval.
Three minutes into the third quarter Great Britain scored again. A slick penalty corner routine involving a double dummy set up Laura Unsworth to find Danson with a slapped pass, the No15 did the rest to make it 3-1.
Merry got the better of the home defence in the 39th minute from a penalty corner, smashing in a powerful strike that found the net via the goalkeeper’s pads.
The game was nicely balanced heading into the final quarter and within two minutes of the restart, New Zealand equalised.
Undeterred, Great Britain pushed forwards again. Roared on by a fanatical home crowd, Danson broke through and with the goalkeeper closing her down, produced a sublime finish to complete her hat-trick and fire Danny Kerry’s side to a 4-3 win.
