Right on Track!

29th March 2010
Won 50 - 43

With Leeds Carnegie still holding ambitions of their own to reach NTL runners-up spot, and with last season’s MY captain Steph Collard (now at Uni in Leeds) in their ranks, our latest NTL match was always going to be tough.

It was an unusual warm up period because the court and spectator areas were not set-up until about 20 minutes before the match, but as always we adapted and it did not seem to affect things. We knew this was an important fixture, and we all seemed up for it. The pre match meeting went well as did the final huddle. There was a good size and noisy crowd from the start. We were ready!

The starting seven were: Josie Huckle (GK), Rovinj Allen (GD), Jade Cornhill (WD), Shana Potigeiter (C ), Danielle McFarlene (WA), Alice Ewer (GA) and Shaunagh Craig (GS). The quarter started evenly with both teams settling down quickly, and neither prepared to give early ground. Leeds just managed to take the first quarter 10-13, but we were clearly still in the game and not
too worried. Their tall GS, and their mobile GA, were already hitting the target and it was clear our hard working defensive unit would need a range of tactics to subdue them over four quarters.

The second quarter started without formation change, but after only a few minutes Shana injured her ankle and so she had to leave the court. Mikaela Austin came on at centre. After a few more minutes to re-group after the change, normal service was soon resumed and we began to bring the ball down the court better and our own attack were hitting the mark. At the other end things improved as instructions from the bench helped defence get to grips with the challenge. The momentum had swung our way as we took the second quarter 12-10.

At half time, I (Loran Wyatt) replaced Rov Allen at GD. The pattern of the game continued, with neither squad allowing the opposition to pull away. Pressure on their centres did win us some good ball, but they did the same and so the quarter score stayed close. The good thing was we knew we had more to give and so when the quarter finished 35-35, and after a great team talk from the coaches, we came out all guns blazing and focused on taking the points.

We turned over a run of their centres and converted them. So we burst into a good lead that we never looked like losing. Our attack really stepped it up and we restrained Leeds to occasional shots which they did not miss. The quarter score of 15-8 shows just how determined we were.

It was a really great squad performance, with huge support from our bench throughout, and from the big crowd. The performance showed that we have a real winning attitude now. The final score of 50-43 keeps us on track for runners-up with just one to play on April 13th against Team Bath at Hatfield.