Stratford Ladies Blues 39 Comets Tornadoes 46
Trust Helping Hands 33 Shooters Flames 20
Stratford Ladies Purples 31 Shooters Sparks 31
BDR 21 Thunderbirds 24
This weeks matches mixed the league table positions up somewhat. In the early fixtures, second placed Stratford Ladies Blues faced Comets Tornadoes who, having played 2 less games than other teams, were sitting in seventh position. Stratford Blues pulled in support from Purples with Ella Learly playing up at GD. A great mid court performance from Lucie Mellor and on point shooting from Becky Fernandes-Green helped Comets take the win and 5 points, moving them up to sixth position still with a game in hand.
Trust Helping Hands met Shooters Flames in what was a friendly yet competitive match. Trust's Kay Dawson played harbouring a hamstring niggle so stayed at GS, as opposed to her usual position of GA, to protect the injury. Ably supported by Sally Morris at GA, the team build in confidence in the circle converting shooting opportunities. At the other end, Leonie Green at GD frustrated Flames shooting attempts as she played an excellent defensive game. Flames threw all they had at Trust by showing their adaptability and changing positions during the intervals. Sian Betteridge played at C, WA and GA contributing well at each position and deservedly earning herself the umpires' player award.
BDR and Thunderbirds began this week's match equal on points. The umpires recognised strong mid court performances from both teams with Ashlee Powell at C for BDR and newly registered Alice Leeson at WA for Thunderbirds taking their player awards. The teams themselves acknowledged the shooting performance from Phoebe Larner for Thunderbirds and defensive skills of Helen Handy for BDR. With Thunderbirds taking the win they move up to third position and BDR drop one place to fifth.
Stratford Ladies Purples took on Shooters Sparks. Purples played short with just 6 players until reinforcements arrived in the final quarter in the form of Donna Nixon having played a match in the Redditch league earlier in the morning. A very evenly matched game saw the scores even at the end of both of the first two quarters. Sparks played with confidence and made the most of opportunities, maybe buoyed from notching up their first point last week. In the third quarter, Sparks pulled ahead by 6 goals by the end of that period. Bex Heath served the team well at GS rarely missing the net when given the opportunity and supported the team across the court with encouragement and calm advice throughout the match - earning her the umpires' player award. Emily Holmes' consistency midcourt at C helped keep Purples in the game and with less than 10 minutes of the final period remaining her team were back to a full strength, and the match was tight. A great game for the neutral observer, it ended a draw with what might have been the winning goal for Purples passing through the net just seconds too late. The points shared between the two team - 3 points well earned by the less experienced Sparks team who were exuberant with their performance. [Picture below]
Congratulations to Kayleigh Seys, Jemma Moore and Bex Heath, all from Shooters Netball Club. Kayleigh passed her Into Officiating award after her practical assessment. Jemma took and passed the written test for the C award, and Bex was observed umpiring and passed her pre-assessment for her C award also. Great news for the club and the league as development of officials is critical to the future of the league. Well done ladies!
Player of the match awards:
Trust Helping Hands 33 Shooters Flames 20
Stratford Ladies Purples 31 Shooters Sparks 31
BDR 21 Thunderbirds 24
This weeks matches mixed the league table positions up somewhat. In the early fixtures, second placed Stratford Ladies Blues faced Comets Tornadoes who, having played 2 less games than other teams, were sitting in seventh position. Stratford Blues pulled in support from Purples with Ella Learly playing up at GD. A great mid court performance from Lucie Mellor and on point shooting from Becky Fernandes-Green helped Comets take the win and 5 points, moving them up to sixth position still with a game in hand.
Trust Helping Hands met Shooters Flames in what was a friendly yet competitive match. Trust's Kay Dawson played harbouring a hamstring niggle so stayed at GS, as opposed to her usual position of GA, to protect the injury. Ably supported by Sally Morris at GA, the team build in confidence in the circle converting shooting opportunities. At the other end, Leonie Green at GD frustrated Flames shooting attempts as she played an excellent defensive game. Flames threw all they had at Trust by showing their adaptability and changing positions during the intervals. Sian Betteridge played at C, WA and GA contributing well at each position and deservedly earning herself the umpires' player award.
BDR and Thunderbirds began this week's match equal on points. The umpires recognised strong mid court performances from both teams with Ashlee Powell at C for BDR and newly registered Alice Leeson at WA for Thunderbirds taking their player awards. The teams themselves acknowledged the shooting performance from Phoebe Larner for Thunderbirds and defensive skills of Helen Handy for BDR. With Thunderbirds taking the win they move up to third position and BDR drop one place to fifth.
Stratford Ladies Purples took on Shooters Sparks. Purples played short with just 6 players until reinforcements arrived in the final quarter in the form of Donna Nixon having played a match in the Redditch league earlier in the morning. A very evenly matched game saw the scores even at the end of both of the first two quarters. Sparks played with confidence and made the most of opportunities, maybe buoyed from notching up their first point last week. In the third quarter, Sparks pulled ahead by 6 goals by the end of that period. Bex Heath served the team well at GS rarely missing the net when given the opportunity and supported the team across the court with encouragement and calm advice throughout the match - earning her the umpires' player award. Emily Holmes' consistency midcourt at C helped keep Purples in the game and with less than 10 minutes of the final period remaining her team were back to a full strength, and the match was tight. A great game for the neutral observer, it ended a draw with what might have been the winning goal for Purples passing through the net just seconds too late. The points shared between the two team - 3 points well earned by the less experienced Sparks team who were exuberant with their performance. [Picture below]
Congratulations to Kayleigh Seys, Jemma Moore and Bex Heath, all from Shooters Netball Club. Kayleigh passed her Into Officiating award after her practical assessment. Jemma took and passed the written test for the C award, and Bex was observed umpiring and passed her pre-assessment for her C award also. Great news for the club and the league as development of officials is critical to the future of the league. Well done ladies!
Player of the match awards:
- Stratford Ladies Blues: Umpires' and players' player - Amy Towne
- Comets Tornadoes: Umpires' player - Lucie Mellor, Players' player - Becky Fernandes-Green
- Trust Helping Hands: Umpires' player - Leonie Green, Players' player - Sarah Henderson
- Shooters Flames: Umpires' player - Sian Betteridge, Players' player - Pippa Corby
- Stratford Ladies Purples: Umpires' and players' player - Emily Holmes
- Shooters Sparks: Umpires' player - Bex Heath, Players' player - Robyn Beebe
- BDR: Umpires' player - Ashlee Powell, Players' player - Helen Handy
- Thunderbirds: Umpires' player - Alice Leeson, Players' player - Phoebe Larner
