Lost by 11 to Lightning

Monday 27th October 2008
Lost 50 - 39

Loughborough starting their NSL campaign against Mavericks, who were on their second game of the weekend, were buoyed on by a netball mad audience who were looking forward to an action packed game, at the St David Wallace Sports Hall in the University.

A fluid and attacking Mavericks team started the first quarter in terrific form, stunning a slow starting Loughborough team by taking an early lead 9-4, with Mavericks GS Louisa Brownfield hitting 5 goals on the trot! However they could not sustain their good form, and Jade Clark and Olivia Murphy closed down the attacking space, stealing ball for Becky James and Jo Harten to ensure that LL went into the first break 14 - 10 ahead.

LL powered ahead in the second quarter as Mavericks struggled to convert possession into goals. Some impatient feeding into the Mavericks circle led to turnovers by LL and few defensive answers to subsequent fast breaks and proficient circle edge work meant Mavericks
were down 19 -30 by half time.

Changes were made for the start of the third quarter. Chrissy Fitzgerald came into WD and Gemma Wiseman to WA. Chioma Ezeogu moved to centre and the defensive unit of Natalie Seaton (WD to GD) and Naida Hutchinson (GD to GK) needed to put the LL attack under greater pressure in the third quarter. This seven restricted LL to 8/13 attempts on goal, and ensured a better timed, more controlled and patient ball delivery to the shooting circle.

Down by 11 and still believing in the win, the Mavericks coaching team of Kendra Slawinski and Maggie Jackson, switched Brownfield to GA and Hall to GS going into the final fifteen. At one point Mavericks got to within 8 of LL, but it was not to be. Despite the disappointment, the Mavericks players and coaching staff could see improvements from Friday’s game against Brunel.

The Mavericks squad will be back in training next week looking to eradicate early season errors and up the intensity and accuracy of their work.