OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Holmris wants more to make quarters

By Barrie White, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain women’s handball coach Jesper Holmris believes his side have to step up their game after a second defeat at the London 2012 Olympics.

TWO DEFEATS: Women's handballers need to win next games to have chance of making quarter finals

Team GB were beaten 37-16 by four-time world champions Russia at the Copper Box, with goalkeeper Sarah Hargreaves in good form, making 11 saves in the game.

But Holmris felt his side did not give a proper account of themselves and wants them to improve when they face Brazil and Angola.

“We were a bit disappointed,” said Holmris – who took charge of the team in 2008.

“We didn’t come with the same speed as the first game. A few players had an off-day which we can’t afford. We have to play with 100 per-cent, not 50 per-cent.

“We have to play with the same spirit as the first game. Angola are better than we thought they might be.

“They are playing better than six months ago when we met them and they have a few new players.”

Great Britain’s loss to Russia was not unexpected, but line player Lyn Byl admitted that they had hoped to bridge the gap between both sides more.

The 32-year-old is still hopeful of Team GB making the quarter-finals, but knows it would take a lot for them to reach the last eight.

She said: “We have to be realistic – it’s not a big surprise that we would lose to Russia.

“Even though we were five to ten kilos lighter than Russia we could have been stronger, and we also need to be braver in front of goal.

“I was hoping we could keep the score to minus ten at least but they were too fast and too strong for us.

“We will try and fight back against Brazil and we could get a surprise result.”

However, 23-year-old keeper Hargreaves feels there are more than enough positives to take away from the match as Great Britain still chase qualification.

“I think our defence was good,” said Hargreaves, who plays for Farevejle in Denmark. “We were up against a very strong and defensive team.

“All the shots that we attempted at the Russian goal were good and we’ll take the experience with us into the next game.”

© Sportsbeat 2012