GBR juniors ease past Austria in game 2 of 2021 Euro Qualifiers - June 25, 2021

Great Britain have won their first game of the European Qualifiers in Maribor after easing past Austria 24-5.

Seven goals from Charles Kingsmill inspired Great Britain to a convincing win, giving Claudio Palumbo’s side some much needed points before their game against Russia later tonight.

Kingsmill may be frustrated not to have scored eight, having hit the post from a penalty a minute into the first quarter, but he had another penalty opportunity minutes later that he converted shortly after grabbing his first from a man-up situation.

Great Britain then scored their third when Austria’s Stefan Stojkovic was excluded in the last minute of the quarter, allowing Josh Luff to score his first of the tournament. After the first quarter, Great Britain had a three-goal lead, without conceding.

Great Britain then scored four unanswered goals to pull away from the Austrians – two from Andre Savic, and one apiece for Bradley Corran and skipper George Glover.

Six minutes into the second quarter, Austria finally broke their duck from a Harry Bentham major, but Great Britain responded in fine style from a James Blenkinship backshot. Bradley Corran then scored two goals in twenty-seconds to secure his 2^nd quarter hat-trick.

Right on the buzzer, Marko Marinkovic scored Austria’s second, but the first half as a whole was a good display from Great Britain, who had a 10-2 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, Austria scored first through Erol Ibrisimovic, but any chance of an Austrian resurgence was out of the question. Two goals each from Bentham and Luff, as well as more goals from Blenkinship and Kingsmill gave Great Britain six unanswered goals to take the score to 16-3. Ibrisimovic then added another for the side in blue caps before Theo Pliner converted his first goal of the tournament with the penultimate British attack in the quarter.

Baring a miracle from the Austrians, GB knew that had secured their first points of the tournament going into the last quarter. Despite this, Great Britain did not hold back. The period started and ended with two goals from Charles Kingsmill, taking his tally for the game to seven. Sandwiched in between the Kingsmill conversions were goals for GB from his fellow Penguin teammates: Savic, Pliner and Luff.

Great Britain cannot sit back and celebrate their victory, as they face group favourites Russia next at 4:30pm UK time. For Austria, they remain bottom of the group after two games.

Match report: James Spencer Boyce

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