After an emotionally draining EuroHockey Championships, Surbiton’s England star Georgie Twigg is taking a break from the sport – but only for two weeks.
Wearing the three lions, Twigg and her club-mates Sarah Haycroft, Giselle Ansley and Hollie Webb reached Saturday’s final of the European showpiece against Germany.
However, despite the elation of opening the scoring for her country in a dramatic 4-4 draw, Twigg missed in the penalty shoot-out, as did all her compatriots, and Germany claimed the title.
But it was the semi-final win over the tournament favourites Netherlands that will live longest in Twigg’s memory.
She said: “The Dutch are so strong that to beat them was a sign of just how far this young England side has come. That is really exciting and only bodes well for the future.
“Against Germany, I am always excited to score and even when we were 4-3 down at half-time, I knew we would score.
“It was such an exciting game to be part of, a real end-to-end game.”
Happier memories: Twigg, far right, celebrate a famous win over the Netherlands in the EuroHockey semi-finals
She added: “The penalties were unfortunate, on one day they go in, like they did against the Netherlands, and on another they don’t, like against Germany.
“I was disappointed to miss, of course, there is nothing better than seeing the ball hit the back of the net, but it was no to be.”
The domestic season kicks-off on September 14, and while Twigg and her England team-mates have missed much of pre-season, they are all after a starting spot.
And the arrival of Ansley from Loughborough Students, Webb from Beeston, Emily Atkinson from Clifton and Rebecca Herbert from Dutch outfit Pinoke has only raised the selection stakes.
Twigg said: “We’ll all be taking a break from hockey for a couple of weeks, but come the start of the season, we’ll be raring to go again.
“I love playing for Surbiton and, with the new girls we’ve brought in, there is going to be competition for places.
“We all want to be involved in the big games against the likes of Reading and Beeston. I know we will all be up for it.
“It will be interesting when we come up against our fellow England players, but I’m sure it will be nothing more than friendly rivalry.”
Meanwhile, Kate Holmes has joined Clifton, and Lillie Lamacraft has signed for Beeston.
Silver girls: Sarah Haycroft, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Webb and George Twigg
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