HAZEL Musgrove endured a frustrating evening at London 2012’s Aquatics Centre as Team GB’s women’s water polo team slumped to a 16-3 defeat against Australia.

The 23-year-old from Appleton played only a small part in GB’s second group game, coming on in the second quarter and being excluded almost immediately for a minor foul that allowed Australia to score a fourth goal after nine minutes.

Musgrove reappeared later in the second quarter, battling in the centre of defence against an Australian attack that was dominating proceedings and had opened a 6-2 lead at half time.

It was GB women’s second ever Water Polo match at an Olympics, and the expectations were running high in the capital following their terrific opener against three-time European Champions Russia on Monday, when they lost a tight match 7-6 in the final quarter.

Australia, bronze medallists at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, were a much classier outfit, stretching away in the second half and limiting GB to only one goal, a penalty from Francesca Snell.

GB’s other goals were scored by Chloe Wilcox in the first half and though they kept it close in the opening stages, it soon became clear that they would struggle to break down Australia’s miserly defence.

With only eight teams fighting it out for a medal GB are guaranteed a place in the quarter-final matches, but they will want to regroup after this demoralising defeat ahead of their final group B game against Italy on Friday, 6.20pm start.