Unst share spoils at top of netball second division after big win

Unst finished level top of the pre-Christmas netball league division two after a comprehensive victory over Supernova while in the post-Christmas league matches there were victories for Hotfooters, Ness, Scalloway Juniors and Team Tingwall.

Pre-Christmas Leagues

Division Two
(Sponsored by Janet Courtney)

Unst 38, Supernova 6

After battling with the weather, Supernova and Unst eventually managed to meet on the netball court. Both sides started out with gusto but the Christmas break was showing with many of the passes going astray.  The score settled at 9-2 after the first quarter. The return of Nova’s Laura Mathewson caused some problems for the Unst shooters, using her height to her advantage. However, Claire Priest’s ability to shoot from anywhere in the circle proved hard to beat.

The second half of the game saw the younger Unst players find their stride. Karis Burns showed great skill playing as centre, feeding the ball to Chelsea Jamieson who seemed to effortlessly create space for herself and get the shots in the net. The score did not reflect the effort put in by Nova with Emma Rose-Hayes’ determined play challenging the Unst shooters. The game ended 38-6.

Post-Christmas Leagues

Division One
(SLNA)

Loungers v AHS

No match report was submitted.

Division Two
(Ocean Kinetics)

Mishaps 25, Hotfooters 45

This was the first meeting between these teams this season and the first quarter was quite an even affair as both teams took time to settle. However, Hotfooters edged the first quarter 8-5.

Hotfooters took control in the second quarter as they started making crucial interceptions and converting them into goals. Liza Fullerton rarely missing a shot. Hotfooters’ speed and agility showed and Mishaps struggled to play their own game. The second quarter ended 10-23 to Hotfooters.

The third period began with some more determined play from Mishaps. Suzanne Manson and Carly Gray made some good strong passes in attack, with Leanne Tait and Gayle Henry shooting consistently well. Rosann Georgeson performed well in defence for Hotfooters, making some timely interceptions. At the end of the third quarter the score was 18-32.

Both teams made some changes in their line-ups going into the final quarter. Mishaps continued to forge on but the lead was too great.

Mishaps awarded player of the match to Rosann Georgeson for her great defensive play. Suzanne Manson dominated the mid-court and was chosen as player of the match by Hotfooters

Division Three
(Evelyn Rae)

Da McEwans 23, Ness 36

Da McEwans started the game looking in control while the Ness team took a little longer to settle. Sonya Shearer and Alison Williamson were shooting well for Da McEwans and the quarter ended 6-3.

In the second quarter Ness picked up the pace and Megan Smith linked the ball well into the circle. Ness shooters found their form and brought the score back to lead the game 13-10.

The pace remained quick in the third quarter and Da McEwans lost a few centre passes due to interceptions. Ness defenders Ruth Christie and Ailish Parham were making it difficult for Da McEwans attackers to get the ball into the circle, but Joanne Stewart came into GA and converted some long range shots.

The last quarter was led by the Ness players’ pace. Maggie Irvine worked tirelessly in the centre court but it wasn’t enough as Elizabeth Ann Williamson and Caroline Wood were hardly missing a shot. This good-natured match ended 36-23.

Scallywags 40, Scalloway Juniors 48

After Scallywags’ heavy defeat in their first game of the season they were determined to put that behind them.

Scalloway Juniors won the first centre pass and both teams quickly settled into the game, with each team matching goal for goal. As the whistle went for the end of this quarter the teams were even at 10-10.

With the second quarter under way and everything to play for, both teams were proving that this game could go either way. Scallywags’ Gwen Malcolmson and Nicola Johnson were linking up well in the centre court, feeding balls up to Anne-Marie Robinson and Freda Leask who were both finding the net and making Scalloway Juniors’ Amy Topp and Nicola Mouat work hard in defence.

Scalloway Juniors’ Rowan Nicolson was proving to be a valuable player for her side as she was linking well with Leah Henry, feeding passes in to shooters Kirsten Flett and Rachael Young who never missed a shot at goal.

As this quarter drew to a close, it was Scalloway Juniors who went into the third quarter leading 26-24.

The third quarter saw Scallywags’ Anne-Marie Robinson move to GA and Freda Leask to GS and Scalloway Juniors’ Rowan Nicolson move to GA and Kirsten Flett to C.

As the game resumed, Scalloway Juniors were linking up really well together, making Scallywags work tirelessly, especially Nicola Smith and Laura Saunders in defence.

However, Scallywags were finding their form with accurate passing between Gwen Malcolmson and Andrea Henderson who were feeding the balls in to Freda Leask and Anne-Marie Robinson who were both finding their range of shots.

As this quarter ended it was Scalloway Juniors who went into the last quarter leading 37-31.

With the final quarter under way, Scallywags knew they had everything to play for and were fighting for every ball which saw great linking play between Malcolmson and Henderson through to Robinson and Leask, making Scalloway Juniors work hard.

Scalloway Juniors were also playing really well together with fast passing between Flett and Nicolson through to Young who was on form with her accurate shooting.

Both teams never gave up and this was reflected in a very competitive, fast game but it was Scalloway Juniors who won by eight goals.

Da Hooligans 32, Team Tingwall 35

The first quarter started quick with neat accurate passing from both teams which lead to good shooting opportunities. Effective shooting from Bethany Laurenson and Valerie Sales resulted in Da Hooligans taking a one-goal lead after the first quarter at 7-6.

Tingwall came out fighting in the second quarter, determined to take the lead which shook Da Hooligans. Vital interceptions and well linked passes up the court by Tingwall’s Kim Johnson prevented Da Hooligans adding to their lead. Neat passing around the circle and accurate shooting by the Tingwall shooters helped them have an effective 18-11 lead at half time.

The third quarter started with changes made to both teams. Fast neat passing by Da Hooligans’ Zoe Irvine and Karis Irvine gave their shooters key chances. Da Hooligans’ Lara Kay scored vital shots from all around the circle which narrowed the gap but determination from Tingwall allowed them to maintain their lead at the end of the quarter 27-22.

In the the fourth quarter Da Hooligans found their never give up attitude and started to work tirelessly to close the five-goal gap. Effective defending from Tingwall caused Da Hooligans’ shooters Valerie Sales and Lara Kay to shoot from the edge of the circle but they rarely missed.

Vital interceptions from Abbey Irvine and Nicola Polson hindered Tingwall and helped close the gap. Tingwall kept fighting and were determined to finish with the victory.

The players of the match were Karis Irvine for Da Hooligans and Kim Johnson for Tingwall because of her vital interceptions and key linking play up the court.