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
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
