Team Rowley crowned double netball league champions after narrow win over Loungers

The destination of the netball league titles is now confirmed with Team Rowley champions of the first division, making it a double for 2010/11. Meanwhile Unst were victorious in division two and Da McEwans won the third division.

Division One
(Sponsored by SLNA)

Loungers 35, Team Rowley 36

The game started off at a quick pace with Team Rowley immediately taking control and scoring five goals before Loungers could get on the scoreboard.

This game would decide whether Team Rowley were to win the post-Christmas league and so the pressure was on. A Loungers win would result in a play-off required between these two teams to decide the league winners. After a shaky start Loungers settled into the game, clawing back the goals, with shooters Claire Young and Stella Oldbury moving well in the circle making the feeding in to the circle easier for the mid-court players. The quarter ended 10-10.

The second quarter was more in the favour of Loungers, who were steadily bringing the ball up the court and converting into goals. As usual the Rowley shooters, Marie Clark and Lisa Morrison, were on form and rarely missed a shot. Good centre court play from Karen Bannister and Karen Mackay of Rowley meant that their shooters had plenty of shooting chances.

The game remained close after the first half with Loungers gaining a two-point lead at 20-18.

In the third quarter both teams fought hard for every loose ball, and Team Rowley’s defence of Maisie Unsworth and Brenda Leask were able to pick up many interceptions going into the Loungers’ attacking third. At the other end Vicki Henderson and Louise Moar worked hard to keep the Rowley shooters at bay, and were able to intercept a few of the many high balls that went in to shooter Lisa Morrison. Rowley were able to pull back the two goals lost in the second quarter to leave the score at 29-all going in to the final quarter.

Both teams had everything to play for in the last quarter with both determined to win. Nerves showed as both teams gave away some balls which were then converted into goals by accurate shooting from the other team. Rowley managed to get a slight lead but Loungers fought back to bring them back to one goal behind. Hazel Uren of Loungers had a great game, with strong feeding in to the shooters.

A very exciting game finished with Team Rowley winning by one goal and therefore becoming the double winners of the 2010/11 league, as they previously won the pre-Christmas league.

Players of the match were Marie Clark for Team Rowley and Hazel Uren for Loungers.

Challengers v AHS

This game was postponed due to AHS girls being away and winning the Scottish Schools Cup.

Division Two
(Ocean Kinetics)

Wastside 14, Unst 38

The final game of the second division this season got under way with both Unst and Wastside keen and determined. Wastside took the first centre but Unst made a good start, managing to overcome Wastside’s strong centre court play. Unst GK Janet Abernethy did well rebounding to convert the play, and the first quarter ended 10-3.

Wastside came back, starting the second quarter with strong decisive play, and began to close the gap thanks to the great team work of shooting duo Mhari Moncrieff and Catherine Henry. Unst kept their cool, however, and upped their game with strong play from Amber Inkster feeding the ball up to Alana Johnson. The score was 19-7 at half time.

After some re-arranging from both teams the third quarter got under way. The score did not reflect the impressive play from Wastside’s Julie Keith, however, as Claire Priest’s ability to net the ball from almost anywhere in the circle was difficult to overcome. Martha Clark worked to intercept the ball, limiting Wastside’s chances of scoring. The quarter ended 27-9.

Linsday Morrison of Wastside gave it her all, showing her skill as a defender and put pressure on Unst’s attack. Linda Thomson demonstrated her diversity as a player, after a spell of umpiring and a quarter as GK. Linda kept up the pace in the circle as GA in the last quarter to end the final quarter 38-14 with Lindsay Morrison and Claire Priest awarded players of the match.

The Unst players said they would like to thank their sponsors Lakeland Ltd.

Meeting

The Shetland Ladies Netball Association meeting will be on Wednesday 18th May from 7pm to 9pm at Clickimin Centre. At least one member from each team must attend.