Trip North Wins Play Off Points!

7th March 2009
Won 51 - 32

Mavericks on their last away game of the ‘regular season’ had a relaxing and comfortable coach trip ‘Up North’, with a stop on route for a re-fuelling meal in preparation for their early evening match! Mavericks were looking for the season’s second victory against Team Northumbria, and they did just that, outscoring them 51 - 32.

Mavericks started the game with the attacking combination of Camilla Buchanan at C, Karen Atkinson WA, Ella Clark GA and Louisa Brownfield GS. The early stages saw both teams make mistakes but Louisa Brownfield linking with Ella Clark in the shooting circle, showed composure when needed. Defensively Mavericks had to suppress the effective and accurate Carla Dziwoki at GA and contend with the height of GS Emma Lower. Her towering presence caused the Mavericks circle defence duo, Natalie Seaton and Naida Hutchison, initial problems. Nevertheless the experienced pair, with the support of Stef Bello at WD, adjusted their defensive formation, counteracting the threat and made a strong contribution to the first quarter score, 13 -9 to Mavericks.

Mavericks started the second quarter strongly having made no team changes. Team Northumbria made numerous changes to their line-up, at times displaying creditable passages of play, but not with sufficient consistency to trouble Mavericks, who at half time had a 23 – 17 lead.

The third quarter saw changes for Mavericks. Head coach Kendra Slawinski brought Michelle Hall into the game at GS, moving Louisa Brownfield to GA and Chrissy Fitzgerald sliding in at C. This combination worked hard ensuring that Mavericks extended their lead by 13 goals at three quarter time, 36-23.

Team Northumbria also made changes moving the effective and accurate Dziwoki to GS, bringing Talei Bari into the action for the first time in an attempt to close the gap. The move proved ineffective, as Mavericks out scored Team Northumbria 13 -6 for the third quarter.

Mavericks kept the same formation in the 4 th quarter, as opposed to Team Northumbria who again made changes. Emma Lower came back into the game. However, this did not unsettle Mavericks who racked up the goals finishing strongly to record a 51 – 32 score at the final whistle, with the quarter score being 15 – 9.

Maverick Coach Kendra Slawinski commented that “ it was closely contested in first quarter, in the second half we were very strong and competed well to create good game plays.”

Mavericks have 2 games of the CNSL regular season left to play against the top 2, Loughborough and Bath. Then they have the play-offs to look forward too!

Play Off information coming soon...