Great Britain to face USA for bronze after semi-final loss to Australia

Great Britain will face four-time winners USA in the bronze medal match at the Wheelchair Rugby World Championships after a narrow 59-57 semi-final defeat to hosts Australia.

Paul Shaw’s side were competing in their first semi-final since 2006 and put in a valiant display which just saw them edged out by the number one ranked side in the world.

Australia led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter at the Sydney Olympic Park with Great Britain trailing 30-28 at the halfway mark.

And there remained nothing between the two teams with the hosts entering the final quarter with a 46-44 advantage with a place in the World Championship final on the line.

Great Britain trailed by a single point with 90 seconds remaining but were unable to find the crucial turnover with Australia scoring in the final moments to seal a 59-57 triumph.

Australia will face Japan in Friday’s World Championship final while Great Britain – ranked fifth in the world – will take on the United States for a bronze medal match.

The USA finished top of Pool B with five wins from five including a 47-41 success over Great Britain before their surprise 51-46 semi-final loss to Japan.

Victory will give Great Britain their best-ever finish at the World Championships having finished fourth twice before in 2006 and in 1995, the first ever edition of the tournament.

Pool Games:

Poland 31-55 Great Britain

USA 47-41 Great Britain

Great Britain 55-43 Canada & Great Britain 57-20 Colombia

Great Britain 47-41 France

Semi-final:

Australia 59-57 Great Britain

Bronze-medal match:

Great Britain v United States (4.45am UK time)