GBR Senior Women World Water Polo Championships 2024, Doha, QATAR Feb 4-16. RESULTS

Match 1, GBR v Italy Feb. 4th 2024

Great Britain began their World Championships campaign with a 10-22 (3-5, 2-6, 2-6, 3-5) defeat to Olympic qualification hopefuls Italy on Sunday. Lily Turner fired in a hat-trick, while there were also goals for Toula Falvey (2), Katy Cutler (2), Katie Brown, Brooke Tafazolli and captain Kathy Rogers.
Head Coach Nick Buller told World Aquatics after the game, “We were pleased with sections of the play and we can build on that.
“There were some really good phases we were pleased with and we sort of lost it for a period and we recovered.
“This is our first experience of world championships.
“We had good experience playing Holland and Hungary (at the European Championships last month) but we need more of these top-level teams.
“To finish the way we did, we will take that to start with and we want to do better in the future.”
Annie Clapperton added, “I don’t think the scoreline reflected how close it was.
“We were always, like, attacking. Usually with teams like that you don’t attack and they just counter you for the whole game.
“I don’t think we were ever so much behind.
“This was our first World Championships match since 2013.
“Italy’s like a powerhouse and it was always going to be a bit rough.
“We did well and we played well as a team and that’s the most important thing.”

Match 2, Canada v GBR, 6th Feb 2024

Another tough loss for Great Britain at the World Water Polo Championships, as they were beaten 20-5 (6-1, 5-2, 3-0, 6-2) by Olympic qualification hopefuls Canada.
Against Canada, our goalscorers (four from six on five) were Toula Falvey (2), Katy Cutler, Lily Turner and Brooke Tafazolli.
Toula Falvey told World Aquatics after the game, “It was definitely a tough match for us.
“We set some goals and wanted to reach that; definitely some things we can take from this game into the next because we have a really big game coming up.
“We have to learn from our mistakes and move on.”
Match 3, South Africa v GBR. 8th Feb 2024
Great Britain produced a magnificent performance on Thursday morning in Doha to beat South Africa 5-14 (2-5, 0-4, 1-5, 2-0) in their third and final preliminary game at the World Championships.
The result guarantees Great Britain a place in the top-12, which completes their goal of finishing higher than their last appearance on the global stage, which was 13th in 2013.
Great Britain dominated from the start against South Africa, who finished 10th at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and will also be competing in Paris this summer.
There were nine different scorers for Nick Buller’s squad, with Toula Falvey top scoring with three, while there were also goals for Lily Turner (2), Kathy Rogers (2), Katie Brown (2), Annie Clapperton (1), Amelia Peters (1), Lotte Van Wingerden (1), Brooke Tafazolli (1) and Katy Cutler (1).
Captain Kathy Rogers was the player of the game and told World Aquatics “It was a really big match. We prepped hard for it, watching film, looking at how they played.
“Our whole focus was on that game. Two days before we were building up for this game and to put a performance — a team performance in — was really, really good.
“We were calmer in offence and defence and found our rhythm.
“But I honestly think it is about the team. We had every one of our girls touch the ball.
“Everyone contributed and in a game we didn’t know what the outcome would be, as we haven’t played South Africa for years.
“To put in a performance like that was so controlled, on defence as well, we should be really proud of ourselves.”
Great Britain will now face Australia in Saturday’s play-off round, 2.30pm start (UK time).
Match 4, Australia v GBR. 10th Feb 2024
Great Britain will face China in the 9th-12th semi-finals at the World Water Polo Championships after losing in the play-off round 20-8 (6-1, 6-2, 4-1, 4-4) to Australia on Saturday.
Toula Falvey and Katy Cutler top scored with two each, while there were also goals for Lily Turner (1), Kathy Rogers (1), Lotte Van Wingerden (1) and Brooke Tafazolli (1).
Nick Buller’s squad will face China on Monday, 9am start (UK time), with Kazakhstan or New Zealand to follow in their final game in Doha on Wednesday.
Match 5, China v GBR. 12th Feb 2024
Great Britain will contest the 11th/12th classification final on Wednesday after losing 15-10 (4-2, 5-3, 2-1, 4-4) to China on Monday morning.
Excellent effort from all the players, firing in 10 goals against another top side who regularly compete at the Olympics and won the Asian Games last year to book their ticket to Paris 2024.
Twice Great Britain fought back in the fourth quarter to reduce the deficit to three (11-8 early on and then 13-10 with just over two minutes remaining).
Lily Turner top scored for Nick Buller’s squad with four, while Annie Clapperton (2), Katy Cutler (2), Brooke Tafazolli (1) and captain Kathy Rogers were also among the goals.
Lily Turner told World Aquatics after the game, “I’m happy that we worked really hard today as a team.
“We came into this game knowing that we could push China, and we really wanted to get a good result going into the next game.
“We just talked about being controlled and being patient in our offence.”
Great Britain will now look to finish their campaign on a high when they face Kazakhstan on Wednesday morning in a battle for 11th, 6am start (UK time).
Match 6, GBR v Kazakhstan, 14th Feb 2024
Great Britain produced a dominant fourth quarter performance to beat Kazakhstan 8-6 (3-1, 2-2, 0-3, 3-0) in the 11th/12th classification final in Doha on Wednesday morning.
City of Manchester’s Brooke Tafazolli fired in three unanswered goals in the last quarter to complete a dramatic fight back and secure 11th spot.
The victory sees Nick Buller’s squad finish two places higher than the 13th achieved the last time Great Britain competed on the world stage in 2013.
A fantastic way for Great Britain to end their World Water Polo Championships campaign, with Tafazolli top scoring with four, while Annie Clapperton (2), Katie Brown (1) and Katy Cutler (1) were also on target.
Excellent defensive work again from all the players too, restricting Kazakhstan to just two from 10 on extra, and Sophie Jackson produced some outstanding saves, stopping 18 from 24 shots.
The two wins in Doha (against South Africa and Kazakhstan) were also the first games Great Britain has ever won at a World Championships.
Tafazolli, who was awarded player of the game, told World Aquatics, “We’re really happy we got the win. We came in hoping to get top 12 and coming 11th is really good.
“To contribute in this game where it meant a lot made me really proud of myself and all of the girls.
“Thank you to all our families, friends, coaches and our co-workers.
“Lots of us have jobs and we’ve had to take time off, so thanks to all of the support back home.
“People have been awake watching us at 6am today so thank you all very much.”
Fantastic support as always in the stands and back home. With huge thanks to Mike Hesketh and Chris and Nathan Peters for the additional photos.
Lots to look forward to now, as the squad turn their attention to future international competitions, including the 2026 European Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, where Great Britain will play in the top division.

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