GREAT BRITAIN'S women enjoyed an ideal start to their Olympic campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Australia in Pool B in Rio in the early hours of this morning.

Having lost 4-1 to the same opponents in the Champions Trophy at the end of June, Danny Kerry's side exacted a measure of revenge on their arch rivals through superb goals from Lily Owsley and Reading Hockey Club's Alex Danson.

After an early scare when Crista Cullen was briefly floored by a close-range shot which struck her in the stomach, Britain took the lead on 26 minutes thanks to a slick team move eventually finished in style by Owsley, who was a spectator when some of her team-mates won bronze in London four years ago.

Moments later Georgina Morgan hit the post at the other end as Maddie Hinch was beaten for one of the few times in the contest, but Morgan made no mistake three minutes into the third quarter from a penalty corner.

Australia's Edwina Bone then received her first yellow card of the game for a foul, although Britain's penalty corner routine was too convoluted and the chance went begging.

Another opportunity then looked set to elude Danson when she appeared to have turned into trouble as she closed in on goal, but the 31-year-old cleverly reversed direction to fire into the net.

Danson's future at Reading next season remains unsure, and she may leave the Sonning Lane club once she returns from Rio have not played for them in the Investec League last year.

Australia piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Hinch was superb as Britain's last line of defence and they held on to claim all three points.

Great Britain women's captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, the former Reading HC player who will be plying her trade in Holland next season, said: "It was a good three points for us. It was a difficult game and it was not pretty at times but we stayed disciplined throughout.

"Australia are a fantastic side. They have strength all over the field and they will do very well in this tournament so to get a win against them is definitely a great confident booster."