Cold Start Ends in Success!

Saturday 7th February 2009
Won 52 - 30

Despite a shaky error strewn start, and being down 7-9 in the first quarter, Mavericks pulled together and eventually ran out convincing winners 52 – 30.

Credit must be given to Northern Thunders tenacity in the opening fifteen minutes but the opportunities Mavericks created by the work rate of Karen Atkinson, Stef Bello, Hazel Schofield and Naida Hutchinson were not capitalised upon. The feeding of Gemma Wiseman and movement in the circle of Michelle Hall and Louisa Brownfield not gelling to the usual high standard meant Mavericks lacked potency. Nevertheless Mavericks were only two down at the end of this quarter thanks to the pressure Naida Hutchinson placed on the shooting of Karen Grieg. Thankfully she only scored 6 from her 11 chances!

A strong vocal input from captain Karen Atkinson, who at centre must of felt she was doing the ‘bleep’ test in the first quarter and the introduction of Michaella McFarlane, the 18 year old England U19 and U21 player, at WA in the second quarter helped steady the attack. A passionate Mavericks took charge in this quarter, better timing, neater feeding and crisper movement gave an 8 goal run that Northern Thunder were unable to recover from. Mavericks were converting their full court defensive pressure into goals!

A dominant second half was the key to Mavericks success. Birthday girl Ella Clark came into the Mavericks attack in the third quarter at GA. Brownfield to GS and Karen Atkinson to WA, with Chrissy Fitzgerald providing stability in the mid court. Mavericks had found some rhythm and won the quarter convincingly 15 – 5. Stef Bello shone at WD and the fast breaks of Hutchinson from the back ensured clean ball for Mavericks with Hazel Schofield at times driving through the mid court uncontested.

Head Coach Slawinski needed to make changes in the 4th quarter as Ella Clark was unwell. She was replaced at GA by Brownfield and Michelle Hall re-entered the game at GS. Louisa Brownfield playing at goal-attack for the 1st and 4th quarters and at shooter for the other two nailed 34 of her 38 attempts producing an 89% success rate. Mavericks finished the game in comfortable fashion netting 5 unanswered goals in the last quarter, the winning margin 22 goals.

At the end of the match, Kendra Slawinski said “we need to give credit to Thunder for putting us under pressure,” acknowledging the well-contested beginning of the match. In the end, Mavericks managed to pull together a positive game; she continued, reckoning the side’s “quality in depth showed through in the end”.

All pictures by Mavericks official photographer Kevin Jones: kevinjones6@msn.com

Changes in bold purple... style 18