• ​Trust Helping Hands 28 Stratford Ladies Blues 39
• BDR 28 Comets Tornadoes 44
• Thunderbirds 50 Shooters Flames 25
• Pink Ladies 43 Shooters Sparks 17

All teams were treated to a glorious morning to play out the penultimate games of the season.   4th placed Trust Helping Hands met with 2nd placed Stratford Ladies Blues.  A competitive game, Stratford had the lead from the first quarter assisted by great shooting from Jo Wish at GA [opposition's player].  Trust, without their normal centre player, adjusted positions across the game with both Rachel Goodman and Katie Desmond [opposition's player] taking the bib and playing with great effect.  Stratford won the first 2 quarters and took a 24 -11 lead into half time.  Trust had a strong 3rd quarter winning it 9 goals to 6, managing to get within 5 goals during the quarter, but Stratford were leading by 10 at the next interval.  Stratford held on to take the win and with a bye of the final week of the season, currently sit in 2nd position with nothing else they can do but see how things play out 7th April.

BDR met third place Comets Tornadoes in the early game.  Great shooting from Michelle Hastie [opposition's player] and Ami Mertens-Dixon [umpires' player] for BDR helped them keep their score within half to take a point from the game.  Comets took the win and 5 points to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.  In the final match of the season they will meet Stratford Ladies Purples, current league leaders, and the winners will be decided in that match!


Thunderbirds met Shooters Flames in the late game.  With excellent mid court support from Holly Roberts at WA [umpires' player] and Carolyn Stacey at WD [opposition's player], they put a strong performance against Shooters, who were one player short.  Pippa Corby at WA [umpires' player] worked hard to cover the deficit of the other wing, and the Shooters team managed to take a point from the game by scoring within half the winning score.  Both teams sitting mid table, the win for Thunderbirds closes the gap on Flames from 6 points to just 2 and so again, the final match could be crucial to their final league positions.

The final match saw Pink Ladies take on Shooters Sparks.  Both teams started with just 6 players, Pink Ladies started strong and took an early lead.  They were up to a full complement mid way through the first half when their final player arrived and took the court.  Jess Thwaites at WD [umpires' player] was a dominant force across the court for Pink Ladies making great interceptions, finding space and generally supporting the team.  They ended the first quarter with a 5 goal lead.  Lisa Blake shot consistently well for Pink Ladies throughout the match supported by Jo Haslam and Laura Joynes.  At half time, they had stretched their lead to 12 goals.  Shooters Sparks responded to the strength in the circle, bringing Charlotte Rhodes, their newly registered player, into the defensive circle to support Kayleigh Seys  [umpires' player]  However, by the third interval Pink Ladies were 19 goals ahead as they continued to grow in confidence and they ended the match winning by 26 goals.  A fantastic team performance earning them their first points of the season - well deserved ladies!  

Player awards:

Trust Helping Hands: Umpires' player - Leonie Green, Players' player - Katie Desmond
Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpires' player - Sam Murdoch, Players' player - Jo Wish
BDR: Umpires' player - Ami Mertens-Dixon, Players' player - Michelle Hastie
Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' player - Lucy Mellor, Players' player - Lottie Mayers
Thunderbirds: Umpires' player - Holly Roberts, Players' player - Carolyn Stacey
Shooters Flames: Umpires' player - Pippa Corby, Players' player - Scarlett Hitchman
Pink Ladies: Umpires' player - Jess Thwaites, Players' player - Jo Haslam
Shooters Sparks: Umpires' player - Kayleigh Seys, Players' player - Faye Ellery

• ​Shooters Flames 23 Comets Tornadoes 36
• BDR 18 Trust Helping Hands 48
• Thunderbirds 25 Stratford Ladies Blues 48
• Pink Ladies 21 Stratford Ladies Purples 60

Third place Comets Tornadoes met with Shooter Flames in the early match.  Flames were supported with a number of Sparks' players playing up on their bye week.  The game was well supported even on a brisk morning [as GK on the other court I was distracted by the encouragement from players and supporters alike on more than one occasion!]  A competitive match with lots of support is absolutely the aim of the game!  Shooters made great interceptions throughout, with Sian Betteridge covering the court well and providing great all round support at C [Opposition's player].  Robyn Beebe, playing up from Sparks at GD, took the umpires' award for a great defensive performance against Ella Kirby at GA for Comets who took the oppositions' player award for some great shooting.  Flames scored the exact same number of goals as the teams' previous meeting earlier in the season while Comets scored 4 fewer on this occasion; Flames taking a point for being within half of the winning score.

BDR met Trust Helping Hands on the other court.  The Trust team needing players to adapt to positions slightly as they were short on defensive players for the game.  The first quarter was tight, end to end goals and the score stayed within 1 goal to the first interval.  Trust, boosted by some excellent shooting from Holly Jackson [opposition's player] Vicky Lacey and Sally Morris who rotated the attacking positions between then, and fabulous centre court support from Rachel Goodman at WD [umpires' player], strengthened their lead after the first interval.  This despite excellent defensive work for BDR from both Jenny Darby at GD [umpires' player] and Debbie Mertens-Dixon at GK [opposition's player]  

In the later game, Thunderbirds met 2nd placed Stratford Ladies Blues.  Stratford, with an on form Jo Wish as GS [umpires' and opposition's player], took an early lead 11-5 in the first quarter.  The second quarter was drawn 8 all and Thunderbirds kept within 6 goals of Stratford.  Ellie Heron for Thunderbirds took a heavy fall and needed to come off for a blood stoppage.  A quick change around saw Carloyn Stacey move from GD to C, [umpires' player] and Rachel Hollis sub on to allow Ellie to patch herself up.  Stratford stretched their lead and went inot the third interval with 36 goals, double Thunderbirds' current tally. Ellie returned to the court and earned herself the opposition's player award; the final quarter stronger for Thunderbirds again and they closed the gap and bagged a well earned point for being over half the winning score.  

The final match of the week saw opposite ends of the league table meet as Pink Ladies took on Stratford Ladies Blues.  A strong performance from Pink Ladies saw them notch up one of their highest goal tallies of the season, despite strong opposition from the league leaders.  Stratford's shooting partnership of Rebecca England and Laura Urquhart [umpires' player] are tough to break down and the managed a great goal tally between them, despite the best efforts of Renae Hawkyard at GK for Pink Ladies [umpire's player] 

Player of the match awards:

Shooters Flames: Umpires' player - Sian Betteridge, Players' player - Robyn Beebe
Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' player - Lottie Mayers, Players' player - Ella Kirby
BDR: Umpires' player - Debbie Merten-Dixon, Players player - Jenny Darby
Trust Helping Hands: Umpire's player - Rachel Goodman, Players' player - Holly Jackson
Thunderbirds: Umpires' player - Carolyn Stacey, Players' player - Ellie Heron
Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpires' and players' player - Jo Wish
Pink Ladies: Umpires' player - Renae Hawkyard, Players' player - Jo Haslam
Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' player - Laura Urquhart, Players' player - Emily Holmes

​Trust Helping Hands 53 Pink Ladies 25
Comets Tornadoes 43 Shooter Sparks 23
Stratford Ladies Blues 38 Shooters Flames 26

Comets Tornadoes made a strong start against Shooter Sparks in one of the early games on Sunday. With excellent attack and shooting, Tornadoes quickly took the lead, supported well by Helen Mellor (GD) and Lottie Mayers (GK) who were awarded umpire's player and player's player respectively. Sparks fought well with Amelia Rouse and Robyn Beebe putting in great performances. 

Trust Helping Hands played Pink Ladies in the second early fixture. With great defence and play in the centre third by Katie Desmond and Sarah Henderson respectively, Trust Helping Hands took the victory 53-25. 

There was only one late fixture because Thunderbirds conceded to Stratford Ladies Purples. Stratford Ladies Blues met Shooters Flames in the late game. Shooters Flames took the lead in the first quarter 10-6. Stratford Ladies Blues had a fantastic second quarter and stormed ahead 21-12. Both teams intercepted well and it was a hard fought match. Stratford Ladies stayed ahead winning 38-26.  

Player of the match awards:

• Trust Helping Hands:  Umpire's player -  Katie Desmond; Player's player - Sarah Henderson
• Pink Ladies:  Umpire's and Player's player - Jo Haslam
• Comets Tornadoes:  Umpire's player -  Helen Mellor ; Player's player - Lottie Mayers
• Shooter Sparks: Umpire's player - Amelia Rouse; Player's player - Robyn Beebe
• Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpire's player - Caroline Whitfield; Player's player - Amy Towne
• Shooters Flames: Umpire's player - Naomi Parker; Player's player - Robyn Beebe