London's Andrew Pink represents GB in volleyball

London 2012: Team GB mens volleyball learn the hard way after straight sets defeat against Australia

Colin Munford Tuesday, July 31, 2012
9:36 PM

Harry Brokking’s side outpowered by the Australians

The GB mens volleyball team were taught a volleyball lesson as Australia cruised to a straight sets (25-15, 25-18, 25-20) victory inside 90 minutes tonight.

A good spike from Nathan French saw GB pick up their first point of the match, but they slipped 4-1 down before coach Harry Brokking called a time-out.

But that did little to halt the slide as the Aussies opened up an 8-1 advantage at the first technical time-out.

Big serves from the tall Australians, ranked 22nd in the world, moved them into a 10-3 lead and whatever the hosts chucked at their opponents they were unable to gain a stranglehold of the set.

However, the tide turned with Londoner Andrew Pink called upon and GB brought it back to 14-8.

But they still failed to build up any momentum before going down 25-15.

At the start of the second set GB played the wrong server and therefore forfeited the point.

Dami Bakare amazingly picked up just his first point of the match in set two to pull the host nation back to within one at 4-3.

The crowd were spurring Team GB even further after some indiffierent decisions from the umpires and that helped move them level at 10 apiece as Australia called a time-out.

Dami Bakare gave Britain hope as they took a 13-11 lead and the set stayed tight as it entered the closing stage with Brokking’s side down 21-18.

And Australia registered five points on the spin to take the set 25-18 and leave GB facing an uphill struggle.

Queen’s ‘We are the Champions’ was bellowed out at Earls Court in the set break and it was a case of wishful thinking for the Brits.

Despite points being shared at the start of the important third set, Australia began to dominate once again and took a seven-point lead at 14-7.

Australia moved to within six points of the match at 19-13, while Newham’s Peter Bakare was introduced to be the spark GB required.

Fellow sub Joel Miller pulled them to within three after a great spike, but Australia earned four set points and Miller’s serve into the net gifted them a straight sets victory 25-20.

The men will next be in action against Italy, ranked sixth in the world, on Thursday at 10pm.