No fixtures for the league this weekend due to half term.  Taking advantage of the 'free' week, the league organised an England Netball Into Officiating course to be held at the high school for new umpires.  16 learners attended the course consisting of both theory and practical sessions to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to start their journey to becoming qualified umpires.  The league cannot operate without umpires to officiate matches, and so it is essential that opportunities are available to develop these skills.  Plans are being made for future events to help umpires advance on their learning journey to ensure that the match experience in the league is as enjoyable as possible for all involved.  

Stratford Netball League would like to thank all learners who attended, as well as those players who came to support and provide an opportunity for learners to put their new skills into practice.

CBH 41 Thunderbirds 9
Trust Helping Hands 75 BDR 12

With no scheduled fixtures this weekend due to half term, teams took advantage of the central venue being available and arranged 2 postponed/rearranged games to be played back to back on Sunday.

Given their positions at opposite ends of the table, league leaders CBH were challenged by a strong performance from Thunderbirds.  Lauren Simmonds and Yvie Manhood defended excellently presenting CBH shooters with difficulties in keeping possession in and around the circle.  Thunderbirds worked cleverly as a team, altering positions in intervals to maximise their strengths against fierce competition.  CBH also made changes through the game, utilising their 2 subs to good effect.  Whitney Manders defended with great strategy giving Thunderbirds plenty to think about in terms of how to gain space in the circle.  A great team effort by both teams.

Trust Helping Hands and BDR replayed a fixture from December last year which was thwarted by the weather and so could not be completed.  Excellent centre court support from Sarah Kemp and Katie Ford meant there were plenty of shooting opportunities for Trust Helping Hands and Elle Kane converted the majority of them, with great support from Sally Morris and Kay Dawson.  BDR, with their 3 substitutions, made changes through the match to counter Trust's game.  Helen Handy defended excellently, coping well with the height of Elle Kane meaning the Trust attack had to change their game in response.  Jenny Darby provided support to her BDR team all over the court from her position as centre, and Ami Dixon impressed all players on a number of occasions sinking her outstanding long range shots.

Umpires players of the match:

CBH -  Gemma Ketley
Thunderbirds - Lauren Simmonds
Trust Helping Hands - Sarah Kemp
BDR - Jenny Darby

Results from this weekend:

• Stratford Ladies Blues 32 Comets Tornadoes 42
• Trust Helping Hands 55 Shooters 17
• Thunderbirds 22 Comets Thunder 30
• CBH 32 BDR 4

3rd and 4th placed teams Stratford Ladies Blues and Comets Tornadoes met this weekend and the match was a close one.  With just one goal in it after the first quarter, Comets Tornadoes extended their lead to 5 by half time.  Amanda Stobbs was a solid force in the circle for Comets and created space well.  Stratford Ladies defended well with a great partnership between Shirley-Anne Lilley and Sophie Amphlett.  Stratford Ladies closed the gap by one in the third quarter, but Comets had a strong final quarter and the game ended with them winning by 10 goals.  The win for Comets takes third place from Stratford Ladies.

Trust Helping Hands needed to adjust due to poor player availability and injuries, with a number of players out of their normal positions.  They enjoyed a good natured game against Shooters who benefited from the experience of Danielle Sutton playing in defensive and also demonstrating excellent skills in the attacking circle.  Katie Ford moved from defence to WA for Trust Helping Hands, and Rachel Goodman took GA from her usual midcourt positions; both supported Elle Kane well at GS.  The win for Trust keeps them at 2nd.

Playing with a team of just 6, Thunderbirds faced the established team of Comets Thunder.  With the consistency of Carolyn Stacey at centre providing good support for them, they achieved one of their highest finishing scores of the season to take a well earned point from the game.  The win for Thunder moves them from 7th to 5th in the table as they move ahead of BDR and Shooters, still tied on points.

League leaders CBH recorded a comfortable win against BDR despite a strong defensive performance from Jenny Darby and Helen Handy.

Umpires players of the match:

Stratford Ladies Blues - Shirley-Anne Lilley
Comets Tornadoes - Rhi Ridgway
Trust Helping Hands - Elle Kane
Shooters - Charlotte Rhodes
Thunderbirds - Carolyn Stacey
Comets Thunder - Ella Kirby
CBH - Tash Pryce 
BDR - Jenny Darby

Trust Helping Hands 56 Stratford Ladies Blues 38

CBH 37 Comets Tornadoes 27
Pink Ladies 14 BDR 18
Thunderbirds 0 Shooters 35 *6-41


With Stratford Ladies having beaten Shooters in a midweek rearranged fixture they had taken 2nd spot, so the match on Sunday against their training partners, Trust Helping Hands was an important game for both sides.  Trust Helping Hands were blighted with lack of availability and played the game with just 6.  The first half was close with the lead swinging between the sides and the score keeping within 3 or 4 goals.  Both sides had great centre court support from Sarah Kemp and Amy Towne.  Trust Helping Hands' defence of Kate Halden and Kelly Stepney worked well together to prevent Stratford Ladies from scoring in their usual manner, and the side extended their lead through the second half.  Trust Helping Hands overcame their disadvantage of being a player down and delivered a great team effort to take 5 points from a very good natured game.  

CBH's fixture against Comets Tornadoes also crucial in terms of league positions, as a win for the Comets team would have them, CBH and Trust Helping Hands all having lost 2 matches so far.  The game was competitive from the first whistle and the score remained very close for the first two quarters.  Unfortunately for Comets Tornadoes, their GA, Becky Fernandes Green suffered an early injury and was unable to continue.  Her team mates responded well, swapping positions round and demonstrating their adaptability in keeping themselves very much in the match.  Holly Jackson was typically on form in the circle for CBH.  However, a strong defensive performance from Comets Tornadoes, in particular Katie Irgin in various positions kept their team within 5 through to the third quarter.  The final quarter saw CBH stretch their lead and eventually take the 5 points.

Another 'stable-mate' fixture took place between Pink Ladies and BDR.  With the teams training together in the week, both sides were familiar with their opposition's play.  A friendly game between the sides waited some while for the first goal and the score remained close throughout.  The umpires recognised the defensive performances of Sarah Blake and Helen Handy in a relatively low scoring game.  The score remained close throughout, with BDR taking the win, but Pink Ladies taking 2 points for being within 5 of the winning score.

Thunderbirds struggled against an on form Shooters side.  Like Trust Helping Hands, they were low on availability for the match but pulled a team of 7 together by recruiting a new player.  Unfortunately, due an issue with registration, the game had to be recorded as a 35-0 loss for them, with the score on the day actually ending at 41-6 to Shooters.  Carolyn Stacey showed great adaptability and provided good support for her team from centre.  Georgie Wilkinson, typically strong in defence, along with returning player Danni Sutton prevented Thunderbirds from netting more than 6.  Shooters' 5 points keep them level on points with BDR, but closes the gap on goal difference.

Umpires' players of the match:

Trust Helping Hands - Sarah Kemp
Stratford Ladies Blues - Amy Towne
CBH - Holly Jackson
Comets Tornadoes - Katie Irgin
Pink Ladies - Sarah Blake
BDR - Helen Handy
Thunderbirds - Carolyn Stacey
Shooters - Georgie Wilkinson