Shooters Flames 44 Thunderbirds 3 11
Thunderbirds 2 34 Stratford Ladies Blues 43
Comets Tornadoes 71 Thunderbirds 4 14
BDR 18 Stratford Ladies Purples 63
Trust Helping Hands 64 Thunderbirds 5 2
Thunderbirds 1 23 Shooters Sparks 14

A cold morning saw the last matches of the 2nd round play out this Sunday.  2nd placed Shooters Flames took on Thunderbirds 3 in the early fixture.  The Thunderbirds team did well against the on form Flames side.  Hannah Cumberworth at GS helped her side improve their tally against Flames from the last meeting, her efforts gaining recognition from both umpires and her opposition.  Dannie Sutton at GA for Flames picked up the players' award for a strong game.  However, the Thunderbirds defence put in a good shift as they managed to reduce Flames' goal tally by over 40% from their match in the first round.  

Thunderbirds 2 met league leaders Stratford Ladies Blues.  The mid table team were on form and brought the game to Blues from the first whistle.  With Ellie Lees as a reliable presence in the shooting circle throughout the match, Thunderbirds won the first quarter 9 - 7.  The second quarter remained tight with Blues just nudging ahead going into half time with a 3 goal advantage.  In the 2nd half, Sam Murdoch at GA for Blues, really came into form creating and converting scoring opportunities and Blues began to pull away.  Her impact on the game was recognised by her opposition with the players' award.  Mia Coles was strong in defence at GK for Thunderbirds getting crucial interceptions for her side and making life difficult for the Blues' shooters, noted by both the umpires and the opposition.  5 points for the win keeps Blues 3 points clear of Flames .. who they meet next week in the intergroup matches for a crucial top of the table clash!

Comets Tornadoes took on Thunderbirds 4 in the final early fixture.  Solid shooting from the Comets side saw them notch up their highest score of the season to date.  Both sides benefited from great all court support from their C players with Molly Paish for Comets and Olivia Peachey for Thunderbirds earning the umpires' awards.  

In the late fixtures, BDR met Stratford Ladies Purples.  Purples maintained their consistency in clocking up a good tally of goals [They have the highest average match score in the league] Umpires' choice Laura Urquhart at GA helping them keep this match above their match average.  Helen Handy, GK for BDR, impressed both opposition and umpires' in her attempt to keep that scoreline down.  The win keeps Purples in equal third place, tied on points with Comets Tornadoes who they play next week in the intergroup matches.

Trust Helping Hands met Thunderbirds 5.  Despite managing their lowest score of the season, the young side were notably improved from their first meeting and were a pleasure to play against and umpire showing determination and great sporting spirit.  Emilia Sturt was a strong presence in the shooting circle using her space well and coming out to support her team in the goal third, hence earning herself the umpires' award.  Liv Clayton impressed her opponents with her consistency in different positions for her team and the contribution she made across the court.

Thunderbirds 1 took on Shooters Sparks in the final fixture.  Sparks have had a good run and would therefore have come into the game with confidence.  The Thunderbirds side had 2 players playing up from lower teams and so not their normal squad.  GD was a key position for both teams, represented in the player awards - Lily Edwards, GD for Thunderbirds took the umpires' award, Pip Ireland GD for Sparks took the oppositions' award with the other umpires' award going to Mimi Rouse, Sparks' sub who also played GD.  

Player of the match awards

• Shooters Flames: Umpires' player - Scarlett Hitchman, Players' player - Dannie Sutton
• Thunderbirds 3: Umpires' & players' player - Hannah Cumberworth
• Thunderbirds 2: Umpires' & players' player - Mia Coles
• Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpires' player - Annie Bradley, Players' player - Sam Murdoch
• Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' player - Molly Paish, Players' player - Alma Warburton
• Thunderbirds 4: Umpires' player - Olivia Peachey, Players' player - Tilly Pettitt
• BDR: Umpires' & Players' player - Helen Handy
• Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' player - Laura Urquhart, Players' player - Alice Linley
• Trust Helping Hands: Umpires' & players' player - Rachel Goodman
• Thunderbirds 5: Umpires' player - Emilia Sturt, Players' player - Liv Clayton
• Thunderbirds 1: Umpires' player - Lily Edwards, Players' player - Issy Owrid
• Shooters Sparks: Umpires player - Mimi Rouse, Players' player - Pip Ireland

• Stratford Ladies Purples 30 Shooters Flames 42
• Stratford Ladies Blues 55 Thunderbirds 1 15
• Comets Tornadoes 42 Thunderbirds 2 38
• Thunderbirds 5 22 Thunderbirds 3 46
• Trust 38 BDR 19
• Thunderbirds 4 16 Shooters Sparks 27

The teams were back on court on Sunday morning raring to go after the Christmas break. The early match between Stratford Ladies Purples and Shooters Flames saw both teams playing well in a competitive and friendly match. Shooters Flames worked their socks off with great shooting from Danielle Sutton from the warm up and throughout the match earning her the players’ player award. Despite great defence by Stratford Ladies Purples, particularly Alice Linley who was playing up, Shooters Flames took the win and 5 points.

Stratford Ladies Blues were also in action against Thunderbirds 1, taking a comfortable win 55-15 and 5 points.  Both players’ choices went to the centres recognising the strong midcourt support of Amy Towne – C for Stratford Ladies Blues - and Freya Richardson – C for Thunderbirds 1, who also received the umpires’ player award.

The final early fixture was a closely fought contest between Comets Tornadoes and Thunderbirds 2. Thunderbirds 2 started strongly and led by 6 goals in the first quarter. Comets Tornadoes fought hard to level the scores at 20 all at half time. With great shooting from Vic Bean and Ellie Lees, who received umpires’ player, Thunderbirds 2 led by one goal in the third quarter. In a close final quarter, Comets Tornadoes took the lead and won 42-38, with Mollie Paish – C for Comets Tornadoes – deservedly taking players’ and umpires’ player.

The late fixtures saw Thunderbirds 5 take on Thunderbirds 3. Both teams played well with players’ and umpires’ awards distributed across attack, mid-court and defence players. While Thunderbirds 3 took the win, Thunderbirds 5 improved the goal difference from their last meeting and were agonisingly close to taking their first point from a match - just ONE more goal would have put them within half of the winning score and earned them a point!Meanwhile Trust played a strong game against BDR. BDR took the lead in the first quarter. Both teams defended well with Helen Handy – GK for BDR - taking the umpires’ player and Hollie Jones – GD for Trust – taking the players’ and umpires’ award. Trust made a great come back and took the lead from the second quarter and won the game. Ami Mertens-Dixon’s excellent shooting ensured BDR took away one point. 

Thunderbirds 4 faced Shooters Sparks in a close game. Thunderbirds 4 took the lead in the first quarter, leading by one goal. Shooters Sparks took the lead in the second quarter. Both teams intercepted well and seized opportunities with great mid court support from both centres. Shooters Sparks extended their lead in the third and final quarters taking away 5 points, with Thunderbirds 4 taking a valuable point.

Player of the match awards:

• Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' and players' player – Alice Linley
• Shooters Flames: Players’ player – D Sutton, Umpires’ player – Jemma Moore
• Stratford Ladies Blues: Players’ player – Amy Towne, Umpires’ player – Anastacia Bradley
• Thunderbirds 1: Umpires' and players' player – Freya Richardson
• Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' and players' player – Mollie Paish
• Thunderbirds 2: Players’ player – Carolyn Stacey, Umpires’ player – Ellie Lees
• Thunderbirds 5: Players’ player – Alice Southall, Umpires’ player – Lindsay Ampuller
• Thunderbirds 3: Players’ player – Lizzie Chute, Umpires’ player – Louise Tarmey
• Trust: Umpires' and players' player – Hollie Jones
• BDR: Players’ player - Ami Mertens-Dixon, Umpires’ player – Helen Handy
• Thunderbirds 4: Umpires' and players' player – Olivia Peachey
• Shooters Sparks: Players’ player – Laura Tolley, Umpires’ player – Isabella Wilson