Harry sees UK wheelchair rugby team thrash Aussies at Invictus Games

Updated

Prince Harry has watched the UK wheelchair rugby team annihilate Australia in a combative bronze medal match at the Invictus Games.

The UK banished the disappointment of their semi-final loss to Denmark by drubbing the southern hemisphere side by more than 40 goals.

Before the game the compere played the "salute cam" game where a roving camera zooms in on spectators who have to stand up and give a salute.

Harry pointed to a man in military uniform next to him, and when he appeared reluctant to stand up the Prince gave a salute as did some of those around him.

He also joined a Mexican wave that went around the arena filled with around 2,000 shouting and clapping fans at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Australian Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe sat a few seats away from Harry and they shared a laugh before the match.

The UK dominated the first half with the players making some big hits on their opponents, who could not keep up with the speed and manoeuvrability of the men in red, white and blue who were ahead 23-3 at the midway point.

Things continued in a similar vein in the second half and Thorpe started a chant of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" which Harry and a few of those sat around him joined in with to lift the spirits of the team.

The UK scored another 23 points to take their final tally to 46 and they restricted Australia to just one second half goal which was cheered by the crowds as if they had won the match.

When the final whistle went the teams embraced each other on the indoor pitch, and Harry was spotted filming the moment on a smartphone.

US vice president Joe Biden, joined by wife Jill, made a surprise visit to the Games.

Before the USA played in the wheelchair rugby final, Mr Biden stood in the arena and gave an impromptu speech.

To cheers he said: "It's an honour to be in the presence of so many warriors on the battlefield, warriors off the field."

He paid tribute to his son, former Delaware attorney general Beau Biden, an Iraq war veteran who died last year after a battle with brain cancer.

The vice president told the audience: "Our son was Beau, a decorated soldier, and he used to have an expression, 'never complain and never explain, just get up, get up'."

An exhibition match was played before the USA took on Denmark for the gold medal.

The American players delighted the crowds by dominating their opponents and ran out comfortable winners.

Harry presented bronze medals to the UK team, giving each player a hug, and then he ran along high-fiving the Americans and the Danes.

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