​Stratford Ladies Purples 49 Thunderbirds 22
Comets Tornadoes 18 Shooters Sparks 20
Stratford Ladies Blues 19 Shooters Flames 34
Trust Helping Hands 64 Pink Ladies 8


League leaders Stratford Ladies Purples took on Thunderbirds in the early match.  They made a strong start with a 5 goal lead after the first quarter. Despite a strong defensive performance from Lauren Simmonds of Thunderbirds, they stretched their lead consistently over the first three quarters with some excellent shooting from Rebecca England, supported also by Laura Urquhart and Sam Murdoch.  In the final period, Thunderbirds mixed things up and Lauren moved to the other end of the court and took the GA bib.  The final quarter was Thunderbirds' best of the match, but it wasn't enough to close the gap and Purples took the 5 points and extended their lead at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Comets Tornadoes faced on form Shooters Sparks in what proved to be an extremely tight game.  Excellent defence from Sparks prevented Comets from taking control of the game with Pip Ireland and Mimi Rouse recognised for their efforts at GD and GK.  For Comets, it was a family affair, with mum & daughter Helen and Lucie Mellor taking the player awards for their defensive and mid court performances respectively.  The score remaining level through to final quarter, Sparks managed to pull ahead to take the win by just 2 goals, meaning Comets take 2 points from the game and maintain their mid table position still with 2 games in hand.

Stratford Ladies Blues met Shooters Flames in the late game.  Blues were short of players and so were supported with Purples players playing 'up'  Laura Urquhart subbing for them after a full game for her own team, and whilst also playing out of position impressed both umpires and her opposition to pick up both player awards.  Flames started strong and took the upper hand early on.  Flames were happy with a strong all round performance with hard work in defence gaining interceptions, good midcourt play and feeds into the circle and their shooters on form.  Their win and 5 points means they leapfrog Comets in the table and move up to 5th.

On the other court, Trust Helping Hands and Pink Ladies enjoyed a friendly game.  A player short, but not deterred, Pink Ladies were to face Trust whose shooters, Kay Dawson and Vicky Lacey, didn't seem to be able to miss!  Without their usual centre player, Trust moved things around centre court and defensively.  Jo Haslam for Pink Ladies also took different positions and contributed well wherever she played, deservedly collecting both umpire and opposition's player awards.

Player of the match awards:

Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' player - Lottie Baird, Players' player - Rebecca England
Thunderbirds: Umpires' player - Lauren Simmonds, Players' player - Vic Bean
Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' player - Helen Mellor, Players' player - Lucie Mellor
Shooters Sparks: Umpires' player - Pip Ireland, Players' player - Mimi Rouse
Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpires' and players' player - Laura Urquhart
Shooters Flames: Umpires' and player's player - Dannie Sutton
Trust Helping Hands: Umpires' player - Katie Desmond, Players' player - Kay Dawson
Pink Ladies: Umpires' and players' player - Jo Haslam

Trust Helping Hands 22 Stratford Ladies Purples 37
Stratford Thunderbirds 36 Shooters Sparks 24
BDR 25 Stratford Ladies Blues 47

​​Teams were back in action this week after the half term break.  A damp morning caused some issues with the suitability of the playing surface leading to the match between Pink Ladies and Comets Tornadoes being postponed.  The sole early fixture saw Trust Helping Hands take on Stratford Ladies Purples who, with added strength and support from a number of the club's A team players [Redditch league], played out a competent and polished game.  A good third quarter from Trust, particularly GK Kelly Stepney, who took a clean sweep of player of the match awards, saw them close the gap to just 4 goals and they worked hard to try to gain points from their training 'stable mates'.  However, Purples were too strong and extended their lead again in the final session to leave Trust taking just a point.

Stratford Thunderbirds took on Shooters Sparks who played their strongest game of the season so far with their highest goal tally.  The team were happy with their performance reflecting on their quick and sharp play across the court and some great shooting.  However, Thunderbirds also played a strong game with excellent shooting from Ellie Lees at GS who scooped both umpires' and players' player of the match awards.  They took the win, but with Sparks' score within half of the winning score, they notched up their first point of the season so far.

BDR had a strong first half against Stratford Ladies Blues and the score remained close.  Jeniene Mason played in different positions for BDR across the game and made a strong contribution in each, which the umpires couldn't fail to notice and she was recognised for this.  Stratford Ladies Blues were more consistent through the match and extended their lead in the second half to take the win.  Lottie Baird, a Purples player, played up for Blues after playing a full game in the early fixture and took the player of the match award in her second full match of the morning for providing strength in defence and across mid court which supported Blues in securing the win. 

Player of the match awards:

Trust Helping Hands: Umpires' and Players' player - Kelly Stepney
Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' player - Beth Griffiths, Players player - Laura Urquhart
Stratford Thunderbirds: Umpires' and Players' player - Ellie Lees
Shooters Sparks: Umpires' player - Amelia Rose, Players' player - Anna Philpott
BDR: Umpires' player - Jeniene Mason, Players' player - Michelle Hastie
Stratford Ladies Blues - Umpires' player - Lottie Baird, Players' player - Jo Wish

​Trust Helping Hands 28 Comets Tornadoes 34
BDR 38 Shooters Sparks 6
Stratford Ladies Purples 32 Stratford Ladies Blues 42

Pink Ladies 12 Shooters Flames 54

After another week of postponed games, the first games this week started as early morning fog was lifting.  Comets Tornadoes played a strong game against Trust Helping Hands; a match that was close throughout.  Trust Helping Hands had shooting opportunities but didn't manage to convert often enough allowing Tornadoes to keep a the lead through all four quarters and preventing Trust from clinching 2 points for keeping within 5 goals of their winning score.  BDR notched up a convincing win against Shooters Sparks who struggled to find the net without their usual players in the goal circle.  It was a family affair for BDR with mother and daughter Michelle and Jasmine Hastie taking the player of the match awards between them.  

The fog was just a memory as the 2nd games began and the sun came out making for a gloriously warm morning.  Kathy Moore of Shooters Flames  'doesn't do winter', but the conditions may have convinced her otherwise as she had a great performance in the match against Pink Ladies, picking up the umpires' player award and helping her team to a comfortable win.

Meanwhile, Stratford Ladies had their teams pitted against each other.  With both teams struggling with player availability the game began as 5 versus 5, meaning a particularly physical game for all players and presenting interesting strategy challenges for both teams.  The second half saw Blues building on their lead, and Purples brought on their 6th player.  However, an ankle injury for their GS Rebecca England so the game return to 5 aside and despite a great performance by Laura Urquhart at GA - recognised by both the umpires and the opposition - Blues built on their lead and took the win.  

Player of the match awards:

Trust Helping Hands - Umpires' player: Rachel Goodman, Players' player: Kelly Stepney
Comets Tornadoes - Umpires' player: Lottie Mayers, Players' player: Ella Kirby
BDR - Umpires' player: Jasmine Hastie, Players' player: Michelle Hastie
Shooters Sparks - Umpire and players' player: Amelia Rose
Stratford Ladies Purples - Umpire and players' player: Laura Urquhart
Stratford Ladies Blues - Umpires' player: Jo Wish, Players' player: Amy Towne
Pink Ladies - Umpires' player: Ruth Tandy, Players' player: Lisa Blake

• ​Pink Ladies 10 BDR 55
• Shooters Flames 42 Stratford Ladies Purples 50
• Stratford Thunderbirds 32 Trust Helping Hands 47
• Shooters Sparks 18 Stratford Ladies Blues 47

A crisp and bright morning for netball this week.  Stratford Ladies Blues, playing their first game of the season made a strong start with a win against Shooters Sparks helped by a solid performance from Any Towne in the Centre bib.  The early matches also saw both clubs pitted against each other, with Stratford Ladies again coming out on top with Purples beating Shooters Flames.  This game was won on a tighter margin and was well fought throughout by both teams.  Another great performance at Centre from Emily Holmes helped the Stratford Ladies team keep themselves ahead, despite strong opposition from Flames.  Dannie Sutton again excelling in her role at GA.  Stratford Thunderbirds played a strong game against Trust Helping Hands but the latter team took the win, not least down to the defensive skills of Kelly Stepney who prevented more Thunderbirds goals getting in and earning her both umpires' and players' player of the match.  

Player of the match awards:

• Pink Ladies - Umpires' player: Jo Haslam, Players' player: Kerry Fox
• BDR - Umpires' player: Jenny Darby, Players' player: Kate Wallace
• Shooters Flames - Umpires' and Players' player: Dannie Sutton
• Stratford Ladies Purples - Umpires' player: Emily Holmes, Players' player: Laura Urquhart
• Stratford Thunderbirds - Umpires' player: Olivia Griffiths, Players' player: Phoebe Larner
• Trust Helping Hands - Umpires' and Players' player: Kelly Stepney
• Shooters Sparks - Umpires' and Players' player: Amelia Rose
• Stratford Ladies Blues - Umpires' and Players' player: Amy Towne

​Thunderbirds 15 Pink Ladies 17
Trust 25 BDR 12 **Score at half time
CBH 58 Comets Thunder 12

This weekend saw matches played in a rather unconventional way.  With weather having prevented play on 2 previous weekends, the league was keen to get games played this week to keep the competition running to schedule.  Despite a frosty morning, teams arrived in the hope of getting matches underway.  As the outdoor courts were not deemed fit for play, the league moved indoors for the 0930 matches.  Stratford Ladies Blues and Shooters decided that they would play their fixture during a training session and this left CBH and Comets Thunder to play on the indoor court.

Comets Thunder held their own against CBH in the first quarter keeping level on goals, but the experience of CBH took them on to win by 46 goals despite a strong performance from the youth team.  Lucie Mellor fully deserved her player of the match award giving her team great support mid court and also in the circle when the team swapped positions around.  Becky Morris and Ella Kirby demonstrated some great shooting taking advantage of opportunities when they came.  CBH remain in second position behind Trust, but have closed the gap a little on goal difference this week.

​BDR 24 Stratford Ladies Blues 59
Shooters 8 Comets Tornadoes 45
Comets Thunder 39 Trust 58
Pink Ladies 14 CBH 49

The league continues to be extremely close at the top with the first 3 teams separated only by one point, and first and second positions decided only on goal difference.  All three top teams - Trust, CBH and Comets Tornadoes - won again this weekend keeping the pressure on.  Stratford Ladies Blues also took a win against BDR, keeping close behind in fourth position.

Trust's game against Comets Thunder was played with just 6 players, and the youth of the Thunder team certainly had Trust working hard.  They pulled together well as a team to take the win in a friendly well fought match with some excellent shooting from Becky Morris and Ella Kirby for Comets Thunder.  

Comets Tornadoes 69 Pink Ladies 24
Trust 39 CBH 28
Shooters 25 Comets Thunder 19
Stratford Ladies Blues 37 Thunderbirds 14

Another top of the table clash saw Trust end CBH's unbeaten run in a close and competitive game.  Trust's victory knocks CBH off the top spot, but only on goal difference as they share equal points.  Comets Tornadoes secured a comfortable win against Pink Ladies to stay just one point behind the leaders in third position.  Stratford Ladies also took 5 points from the match against Thunderbirds keeping them close behind in fourth.  

Comets Tornadoes 27 CBH 31
Stratford Ladies Blues 25 Trust 53
Shooters 15 Thunderbirds 17
BDR 35 Pink Ladies 20

Some really close games this weekend making life very interesting!  There was a top of the table clash between Comets Tornadoes and CBH, both coming into this weekend unbeaten.  A tight and well fought game saw CBH triumph to maintain their position at the top. Tornadoes kept close with clever play around the circle and well supported by Anna Garside at WA,  and they deserved their 2 points for keeping within 5 goals of the final winning score.  2nd and 3rd positioned teams, Stratford Ladies Blues and Trust, also played each other this weekend making the top 4 positions all to play for.  Trust put in a good team performance to leap frog Stratford Ladies Blues and Comets Tornadoes into 2nd place.

Pink Ladies 6 Trust 83
Comets Thunder 24 Stratford Ladies Blues 41
BDR 24 Comets Tornadoes 56
Thunderbirds 11 CBH 57

Some great score lines on a sunny morning when the glare of the sun made life difficult for attackers and defenders alike.  CBH and Comets Tornadoes maintain their unbeaten record to remain 1st and 2nd in the league respectively.  Comets' youth team, Thunder, enjoyed a friendly but competitive game against Stratford Ladies and fought well throughout, putting in a strong final quarter to achieve over 50% of Stratford Ladies' score securing themselves a well earned point.  Pink Ladies and Trust played out a fairly one-sided match in great spirits with Pink Ladies keeping their heads up and smiles on their faces throughout despite fighting against a strong goal deficit from the first quarter.  Elle Kane shooting for Trust didn't let up on them with her aim excellent throughout the match.