Too Close but Two Points Bagged

Friday 24th October 2008
Won 30 - 25

What a challenge to both teams as they contest the start of the new season. A local Derby ! This game was always going to be unpredictable. Both teams had key players absent through illness – Asha Tett for Brunel and Karen Atkinson for Mavericks and both teams were sporting new line ups! Mavericks welcoming new comers Chioma Ezeogu, Camilla Buchanan, Hazel Schofield, Naida Hutchinson and Natalie Seaton alongside last year’s Champion stalwarts Michelle Hall and Louisa Brownfield.

It was great to see last year’s dynamic defensive duo and Mavericks former winning captain and vice captain Naomi Stenhouse ( Siddall ) and Amanda Newton in the audience to cheer on the ‘new look’ Mavericks as they contend for the title once again.

Mavericks were playing in front of a packed home crowd who are used to Mavericks winning. The atmosphere was electric, even if at times the play
did not live up to expectation. Brunel scored the first goal of the evening, a missed shot by Mavericks at the start and Brunel into a 2-1 lead. The match ran goal for goal till 5 all and then Mavericks pulled ahead with some extensive defending work and accurate shooting from Louisa Brownfield, who spent most of the evening under close scrutiny and pressure from GK Sonia Mkloma. Brunel managed to claw back 2 late goals, due to some sloppy Mavericks play and the first quarter ended 10 -7.

Mavericks never gave up the lead from then on, but Brunel pushed them hard and had they put away their chances the end result could have been different! Brunel made one change throughout the match when Kate Ricks was replaced by Bianca Robinson at half time. The Mavericks coaching staff introduced Gemma Wiseman and Stef Bello at half time and although Mavericks had a run of 5 unanswered goals at one point in the match, Brunel continued to stay in the game with some neat though court play.

Ella Clark and Adele Modeste were introduced in the final quarter, two new young faces in the Mavericks attack, ably supported by the sterling work rate and experience of England’s Ezeogu and Brownfield. It was the telling intercepts of Naida Hutchinson and the cool head of Louisa Brownfield, doing a lot of damage at GA, that kept Mavericks with possession towards the end of a wild and furious final quarter. But the crowd was pleased that Mavericks took away their first points of the season.

First game over and a lot to improve in all areas for Mavericks. In an error strewn game, both Coaches will have plenty to think about in training this week to ensure each player is able to cope with the demands of netball at this level!