Rio 2016: Heartbreak for rugby sevens alumni as Team GB miss out on medal
There was heartbreak for University of Bath alumni Natasha Hunt and Amy Wilson Hardy as Team GB’s women fell short of a historic rugby sevens medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
After recording convincing wins in their three group matches and the quarter-final against Fiji, Team GB’s progress was halted at the semi-final stages by an impressive New Zealand outfit.
They still had a chance of winning a bronze medal but could not get going against a Canada side they had beaten 22-0 in the group stages and suffered a 33-10 defeat.
Team GB’s prospects in the semi-final were not helped by two yellow cards just before half-time, including one for Wilson Hardy, which allowed New Zealand to exploit the space and open up a decisive lead.
Devastated to come up short yesterday!But could not be prouder to play alongside these girls! Time to get behind GB! pic.twitter.com/ioGsc56fm7
— Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt (@NHunt09) August 9, 2016
Coach Education and Sports Development graduate Hunt said after that game: “It was obviously that much harder with that much space and only five people on the pitch but that isn’t what won and lost us the game, we didn’t quite get our processes quite right and weren’t ruthless enough with the chances we had.
“Unfortunately we’ve lost out to a better team. They’re a good side, they took their chances and moved the ball well. Sometimes you just can’t cover the ground.”
Both Hunt and Wilson Hardy – who studied Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering – represented the University of Bath Women’s Rugby team in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions and were supported by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) during their time at Claverton Down.
Find out more about women’s rugby union at the University of Bath by clicking here.
