Clean sweep for netball teams

Fiona Moss reports on another set of fantastic results for Newcastle’s Netball teams

Netball 

UCLAN 1sts 20-58 Newcastle 1sts

Travelling down to Preston, Newcastle faced another must win match if they were to retain their position at the top of the table. Despite winning the toss, Newcastle conceded straight away; however, this did not deter the girls from their game plan and from then on they took the initiative, leading 13-6 by the end of the first quarter.

Newcastle continued to play with skill and confidence going into the second quarter, with the solid defensive combination of captain Sally Burden and player of the match Mia Archer halting the UCLAN attack on numerous occasions. Quick movement down the court between Katie Rimmer and Jo Murnane saw the Royals maintain a fluidity in their play and at half time Newcastle led 29-11.

The team’s dominance didn’t stop in the second half with Newcastle winning the third quarter, and similarly, the final quarter by 10 goals. The substantial goal difference reflected the consistent and confident shooting of Hannah Swainson and Fiona Moss throughout the match.

The Royals proved why they are top of the league, dominating in all areas of play. This convincing win bodes well for their remaining BUCS matches which must be won if the girls are to ensure promotion.

Newcastle 2nds 37-34 Leeds 3rds

As the top two teams in the league, both Newcastle and Leeds knew that whoever came out on top would stand on pole position in the BUCS table, setting themselves up comfortably for the remainder of the season. Playing at home gave Newcastle a huge advantage, and they ensured that they made the most of it.

Though the game saw random moments of panic and disorganisation, the effort both teams presented was commendable. Lauren Barnett and Helen Jones must be praised for their determination in defence which gave Newcastle a concrete foundation to build their win on. With the lead swinging from team to team, it was not until the closing minutes that Newcastle edged away to grasp the win.

This was a fantastic result for the Royals with the whole team showing true grit to snatch the win and pull away from the rivals in their league.

Newcastle 3rds 44-26 York St John 1sts 

Despite an unprecedented late tip off, Newcastle kept their focus to achieve a solid win over York. It was an impressive and confident performance by the thirds, with the whole team performing well. In spite of a few minor errors, the girls led from the beginning, showing much improvement from their last match against York where they were only able to obtain a draw.

The attack showed great skill with concise movement around the circle, whilst the shooters ensured the Royals maintained their considerable goal difference. The defence served up another sturdy performance, Charlotte Plumtree putting in a particularly impressive display, blocking her shooter out of the game and cutting down York’s attacking options. She was therefore named player of the match.

An impressive performance from everyone where fitness, skill and strength were all key factors in a win that shows just how strong a side the thirds have become.

Newcastle 4ths 44-40 Leeds Trinity 1sts

Entering the match confidently, the fourths took hold of the lead from the start, despite the score remaining tight throughout. Leading the first quarter by two goals, Newcastle had the edge although they could not create a substantial lead. Regardless, they kept their focus and halted any Leeds advances. Philippa Shaw controlled the ball coming down court whilst providing strong passes into the shooters. Player of the match, Freya Cromarty, showed her reliable skills in defence, putting pressure on Leeds’ shooting and attacking play and forcing a number of interceptions. A solid team performance and a great win which was well deserved after a series of very close games where the fourths have been on the wrong side of a tight scoreline. Hopefully they can take confidence from this to finish the remainder of their BUCS matches this season successfully.