Team GB women clinch bronze medal in dominant hockey display

Hockey: Team GB celebrates winning bronze against New Zealand.Chris Helgren/Reuters

Great Britain's women emulated the groundbreaking side of 1992 in becoming only the second team to win Olympic bronze and secure their place in the history books.

The squad, including Scots Emily Maguire and Laura Bartlett, bounced back less than 48 hours after most of the players left the pitch emotionally distraught having lost a close semi-final to Argentina.

But the burden of expectation did not weigh heavy as, spurred on by a vociferous 16,000-strong crowd on Friday, they dominated the game against New Zealand - even if they had to wait until 10 minutes into the second half for their nerves to ease.

Following their medal clinching performance, the Scottish Government’s Sports Minister Shona Robison congratulated the team and in particular Maguire and Bartlett.

She said:: "It is great news that Emily Maguire and Laura Bartlett have played their part in helping the Team GB to a Bronze medal in hockey.

"This is a great achievement and I'd like to congratulate Emily and Laura on their success which takes us to a fantastic haul of 14 medals won by Scottish athletes so far in London 2012."

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