SWINDON’S James Griffin had a game to forget as Great Britain Under 18s lost their opening game of the World Championships in Riga, Latvia.

The Wildcats defenceman was given a match penalty for slashing at 37.50 as his side were beaten 7-3 by second seeds Hungary.

Great Britain, who are the fourth seeds, were behind within 90 seconds of the Division 1A clash as Benjamin Nemes fired past Telford’s Ben Hunt.

Richard Hardi added the second (6.27) before Balazs Sebok made it 3-0 at 15.05, both goals being on the powerplay.

At the start of second period Peter Vincze piled more misery on Great Britain and Hunt was then sacrificed in favour of Sheffield’s Brandon Stones.

Guildford’s Andrew Melachrino pulled one back at 29.24 before Hungary netted a fifth at 34.23 through Robert Domotor.

Griffin was then dealt a match penalty and matters got worse as Hardi bagged his second on the powerplay at the start of the final period.

Great Britain replied with a powerplay goal of their own courtesy of Chelmsford’s Aaron Connolly at 48.04, and another powerplay effort four minutes later from Nottingham’s Tom Soar cut the deficit to three.

But with Connolly serving a checking from behind penalty, Nemes grabbed his second and Hungary’s seventh at 56.00.

GB take on hosts Latvia today in their second match.