World Championships – England frustrated by Russia
England took on Russia on Thursday afternoon in their cross-semi-final
match, hoping to gain a place in the 5th-6th playoff.
Korfball history and IKF rankings said England should win,
but this tournament has not always respected history, and
the young team from Russia was anxious to increase their credibility
yet further.
England opened the score through two Ross Bower long shots,
then pulled further ahead to 3-0 when a well worked opportunity
for Rob Williams from mid range found the mark. Denis Dosugov
made the first Russian goal with a deadly accurate shot from
eight metres. Bower matched that for England then put away
a penalty before Sergey Usachev stepped up with two eight
metre efforts of his own – the second disallowed for
shoving in the rebound by Dosugov. With another chance from
the back line, Usachev was just as accurate again, and after
15 minutes it was 5-3 to England. The lightning speed of Carly
Holness bagged one for her, then the same player added further
to the English lead with seven minutes of the half remaining.
At this stage England were scoring more freely than earlier
in the tournament, and dominating in the rebound, but two
further goals, from Usachev in the back court and Julia Belskaya
from under the korf, demonstrated that Russia was converting
a higher percentage of their chances: they were just constructing
considerably less of them than their more experienced opponent.
Closing the half, Denis Polulyakh scored well from mid range
to make it 7-6.
In the first minute of the second half Alexander Viounnik,
who joined the game shortly before the half time break, scored
a fine long shot to even the scores. Usachev then finished
a free pass to put his team into the lead for the first time.
The physical element of the game edged up a few notches, with
Dosugov and Dave Synott at one end and Otto Fabius and Viounnik
at the other showing each other what they were made of. Belskaya
scored again to take Russia two up, by which point it was
16 minutes since England had scored. Polulyakh then scored
a smart run in and the game was in danger of slipping beyond
England. On 43 minutes England coach Dirk Sercu called time
but his team did not respond and first Polulyakh then Dosugov
took Russia even further ahead to 12-7. Referee Dirk van Heertum
increased England’s frustration by taking exception
to their free pass technique, then finally, 28 minutes after
their previous score, and with their opponents having made
nine in the meantime, Rob Williams added to England’s
tally with a penalty. Bower then scored another penalty with
1’30” to go, but Russia was awarded one of their
own, which Polulyakh was given two chances to score, and England’s
hopes were effectively extinguished. Final score 13-9, with
Russia earning an appointment with Chinese-Taipei to decide
fifth and sixth while England have to make do with meeting
Australia for seventh.
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