Thunderbirds 5 5 Stratford Ladies Purples 82
Thunderbirds 3 9 Trust Helping Hands 54
Shooters Sparks 24 Comets Tornadoes 28
BDR 16 Shooters Flames 44
Thunderbirds 4 15 Stratford Ladies Blues 58
Thunderbirds 1 23 Thunderbirds 2 33
Thunderbirds 5 went into their match against Stratford Ladies Purples with the goal of not conceding as many goals as at their last meeting. Alex Vedy did not play in the first fixture against Purples but certainly made her mark in this one giving strength in defence. Esme Fereday played in various positions for Thunderbirds and contributed well to their overall performance. Liv Clayton at GA impressed both the umpires and the opposition ... reflected in the fact that Phindie Nduna, GD for Purples, also picked up both player awards. Thunderbirds didn't quite achieve their goal, but Purples only scored 3 more against them on this occasion so
On the next court Thunderbirds 3 took on Trust Helping Hands. Thunderbirds played an adaptable game, with players changing position and mixing up the play. Their team spirit and determination was evident throughout the match, in no small part driven by their 8th player on the sidelines in the form of team manager, Alex Burnard, providing support and encouragement at all times. Captain Poppy Paylor was strong in mid court, playing different positions, and providing all round support for her team, earning her the opposition's player award. Hannah Cumberworth in defence was effective at getting some fantastic interceptions both in mid court and in the circle, and deserved her umpires' award. Rachel Goodman worked hard for Trust at C and picked up both player awards, while Charlotte Harris at GS had her strongest game for the team to date. A thoroughly enjoyable game for all concerned. Not to exclude umpire Beth Pickering, who was observed by an assessor and passed her C award pre-assessment - so congratulations to her!
The final early game between Shooters Sparks and Comets Tornadoes was a much closer affair. Comets, as last week against Sparks' club mates Flames, were a player short and so had to drop a wing and play with 6. Credit to them that 2 weeks running they have been involved in super tight matches while at a squad disadvantage. Comets' GD, Helen Mellor, effectively took Sparks' GA, Lorraine Whitmore out of the game with her strong defensive game - earning her the umpires' player award. Sparks benefited from the return of GS Bex Heath in her first match of the season. She and Katy Cwojdzinski at GD provided the team with great vocal support from each end of the court and the team worked well together across the court to keep the score within 4 of Comets' winning total earning Sparks 2 well deserved points.
BDR met 2nd placed Shooters Flames in the late match. Flames' defensive partnership of Karen Philpott and Scarlett Hitchman made life difficult for BDR in the circle making interceptions and forcing the held ball and getting critical turnovers. Ami Mertens-Dixon at GS for BDR impressed the umpires with her effectiveness in the circle despite the defensive pressure. At the other end of the court, Flames' attack were on form in the shape of Dannie Sutton and Sian Betteridge, with Dannie picking up both the umpires' and the opposition's player awards.
Thunderbirds 4 took on top of the table Stratford Ladies Blues. They took the game to Blues and did not give up at any point. Holly Binks started the game at GD but moved to GA. Marked by strong defensive player Helen Williams, she was not phased and used skill and technique to create shooting opportunities and made some excellent shots in the process. Tilly Pettitt at WA for Thunderbirds also played a strong game as captain, leading her team well on court and providing great mid court support. The win for Blues keeps them 3 points clear at the top.
The Thunderbirds derby game between teams 1 & 2 was the final late game of the weekend. Team 2 kept Team 1 to one of their lowest scoring matches of the season so far supported by a strong performance by Mia Coles at GD who picked up the umpires' award. Evie Allwood at GS for Team 1 gave a strong performance noted by the umpires. The win and 5 points for Team 2 moves them up the table, hopping above Shooters Sparks.
Thunderbirds 3 9 Trust Helping Hands 54
Shooters Sparks 24 Comets Tornadoes 28
BDR 16 Shooters Flames 44
Thunderbirds 4 15 Stratford Ladies Blues 58
Thunderbirds 1 23 Thunderbirds 2 33
Thunderbirds 5 went into their match against Stratford Ladies Purples with the goal of not conceding as many goals as at their last meeting. Alex Vedy did not play in the first fixture against Purples but certainly made her mark in this one giving strength in defence. Esme Fereday played in various positions for Thunderbirds and contributed well to their overall performance. Liv Clayton at GA impressed both the umpires and the opposition ... reflected in the fact that Phindie Nduna, GD for Purples, also picked up both player awards. Thunderbirds didn't quite achieve their goal, but Purples only scored 3 more against them on this occasion so
On the next court Thunderbirds 3 took on Trust Helping Hands. Thunderbirds played an adaptable game, with players changing position and mixing up the play. Their team spirit and determination was evident throughout the match, in no small part driven by their 8th player on the sidelines in the form of team manager, Alex Burnard, providing support and encouragement at all times. Captain Poppy Paylor was strong in mid court, playing different positions, and providing all round support for her team, earning her the opposition's player award. Hannah Cumberworth in defence was effective at getting some fantastic interceptions both in mid court and in the circle, and deserved her umpires' award. Rachel Goodman worked hard for Trust at C and picked up both player awards, while Charlotte Harris at GS had her strongest game for the team to date. A thoroughly enjoyable game for all concerned. Not to exclude umpire Beth Pickering, who was observed by an assessor and passed her C award pre-assessment - so congratulations to her!
The final early game between Shooters Sparks and Comets Tornadoes was a much closer affair. Comets, as last week against Sparks' club mates Flames, were a player short and so had to drop a wing and play with 6. Credit to them that 2 weeks running they have been involved in super tight matches while at a squad disadvantage. Comets' GD, Helen Mellor, effectively took Sparks' GA, Lorraine Whitmore out of the game with her strong defensive game - earning her the umpires' player award. Sparks benefited from the return of GS Bex Heath in her first match of the season. She and Katy Cwojdzinski at GD provided the team with great vocal support from each end of the court and the team worked well together across the court to keep the score within 4 of Comets' winning total earning Sparks 2 well deserved points.
BDR met 2nd placed Shooters Flames in the late match. Flames' defensive partnership of Karen Philpott and Scarlett Hitchman made life difficult for BDR in the circle making interceptions and forcing the held ball and getting critical turnovers. Ami Mertens-Dixon at GS for BDR impressed the umpires with her effectiveness in the circle despite the defensive pressure. At the other end of the court, Flames' attack were on form in the shape of Dannie Sutton and Sian Betteridge, with Dannie picking up both the umpires' and the opposition's player awards.
Thunderbirds 4 took on top of the table Stratford Ladies Blues. They took the game to Blues and did not give up at any point. Holly Binks started the game at GD but moved to GA. Marked by strong defensive player Helen Williams, she was not phased and used skill and technique to create shooting opportunities and made some excellent shots in the process. Tilly Pettitt at WA for Thunderbirds also played a strong game as captain, leading her team well on court and providing great mid court support. The win for Blues keeps them 3 points clear at the top.
The Thunderbirds derby game between teams 1 & 2 was the final late game of the weekend. Team 2 kept Team 1 to one of their lowest scoring matches of the season so far supported by a strong performance by Mia Coles at GD who picked up the umpires' award. Evie Allwood at GS for Team 1 gave a strong performance noted by the umpires. The win and 5 points for Team 2 moves them up the table, hopping above Shooters Sparks.
- Thunderbirds 5: Umpires' and players' player - Liv Clayton
- Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' and players' player - Phindiwe Nduna
- Thunderbirds 3: Umpires' player - Hannah Cumberworth
- Trust Helping Hands: Umpires' and players' player - Rachel Goodman
- Shooters Sparks: Umpires' player - Kara Cooke, Players' player - Bex Heath
- Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' player - Ella Kirby, Players' player - Helen Mellor
- BDR: Umpires' player - Ami Mertens-Dixon, Players' player - Ildi Booth
- Shooters Flames: Umpires' and players' player - Dannie Sutton
- Thunderbirds 4: Umpires' players - Holly Binks, Players' player - Tilly Pettitt
- Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpires' player - Sam Murdoch, Players' player - Beth Pickering
- Thunderbirds 1: Umpires' player - Evie Allwood, Players' player - Freya Richardson
- Thunderbirds 2: Umpires' player - Mia Coles, Player's player - Holly Roberts
