UNLUCKY GB MISS OUT

Great Britain narrowly failed to make it to the finals of the European Youth Championship, finishing third in their group behind France and host nation Slovenia, who both qualified.

The GB lads were unfortunate in that their first two matches were against the eventual top two, going down 8-6 to France and then 10-7 to Slovenia.

The rest of the tournament proved a formality, GB beating Portugal 25-2, Belgium 11-4 and Austria 18-4.

France defeated Slovenia 13-9 to finish top of the table with a 100 per cent record. Elsewhere, Poland, Belarus, Montenegro, Turkey and Greece also qualified for the finals in Malta in September. But countries such as Russia and Germany missed out. GB squad:

Stephen Bayles (Sutton & Cheam), Alasdair Campbell (Dunfermline), Matthew Holland (Sutton), Thomas Kelly (Sheffield), Sean King (Invicta), Richard Lawlor (Manchester), William Middleton (Cheltenham), Brett Perkins (Manchester), Glen Robinson (Lancaster), Joshua Smith ( Sheffield), Jake Vincent (Solihull), Jack Waller (Invicta), James Wannop (Lancaster). Team manager: Helena Stocker. Head coach: Tim Dunsbee. Assistant coach: Martin Burke.

A picture of the GB squad at the trophy presentation in Prague. Left to right: Alan Chambers (Invicta), Sean King (Invicta and Grantham), Jack Waller (Invicta and Grantham), Matthew Holland (Sutton & Cheam, goalkeeper), Stephen Bayles (Sutton & Cheam), William Middleton (Cheltenham), Jake Vincent (Solihull), Richard Lawlor (Manchester), James Wannop (Lancaster, capt), Joshua Smith (Sheffield, goalkeeper), Brett Perkins (Manchester and Grantham), Thomas Kelly (Sheffield). Picture: hraf@seznam.cz

Before travelling to Kranj, the squad warmed up impressively with victories at the Ermesinde tournament, Portugal, on April 6-8, and the Jackerson’s memorial competition, Prague, April 27-29, plus second place in the Slowianka Cup, Gorzow, Poland, April 19-22. Details: 

Ermesinde:
GB 16 Sweden 7 (Perkins, King 2, Wannop 2, Waller 5, Robinson 2, Kelly 2, Vincent, Middleton).
GB 27 Portugal 91s 3 (Jackson, Perkins, King 5, Wannop 2, Waller 11, Kelly 3, Vincent, Campbell 2, Middleton).
GB 16 Portugal 6 (Perkins 2, King 4, Wannop, Waller 4, Kelly, Middleton 4).
GB 19 Ireland 4 (Perkins 2, King 2, Wannop 2, Waller 3, Robinson, Kelly, Vincent, Campbell 4, Middleton 3).
 
Slowianka Cup:
GB 12 Sweden 3 (Wannop 3, Waller, Tahraoui, Bayles, Vincent, Campbell 4, Middleton 2).
GB 3 Belarus 3 (Wannop, Waller 2).
GB 3 Poland 1 (Bayles, Vincent, Campbell).
Final: - GB 4 Belarus 8 (Wannop, Waller, Campbell, Middleton).
 
Jackerson's Memorial:
GB 14 Switzerland 9 (King 3, Waller 8, Middleton 3).
GB 11 Macedonia 6 (King 2, Waller 6, Bayles, Vincent 2). 
GB 8 Poland 7 (Perkins, King 2, Waller, Kelly, Bayles, Middleton 2).

KEEPING IN TOUCH

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