Rowley close in on netball title

Team Rowley moved another step closer to the first division netball title with a comfortable win over third-placed Kinetics, the second division saw wins for Arctic Security, Supernova and Mishaps and Ness had a strong win in division three.

Division One

Kinetics 28, Team Rowley 59

Team Rowley started strongly, using fast-paced play and making good interceptions, converting them into goals. Kinetics GK Vaila Hough worked tirelessly in the circle to try to stop Team Rowley GS Lisa Morrison receiving passes, getting a few tips. Despite this Team Rowley pulled ahead in the first quarter to 18-6.

The second quarter saw changes being made to the Kinetics team with Josie Nisbet moving to take the GD bib and Kirsti Leask moving to WD. Team Rowley still displayed excellent linking play in the mid-court by Karen Bannister and Marie Clark.

The Kinetics defence gained some good rebounds in the Rowley circle, converting them into goals. This decreased the score gap, leaving it 16-31 to Team Rowley at the half-time whistle.

The third quarter saw changes again for Kinetics with Rowan Nicolson moving to WD. Rowley also made changes in their defensive circle with Morag Fox moving to GK and Brenda Leask to WD.

Rowley had found their rhythm now and were linking well throughout the court. Good movement and positioning around the defensive circle from Rowan Nicolson and Fiona Shearer of Kinetics meant that they were picking up loose balls from around the circle. However, good interceptions in mid-court from Karen Bannister saved them from any Kinetics attempt at a shot on goal. The third quarter finished 44-23 to Team Rowley.

In the last quarter both teams were still working hard. However, Team Rowley had now settled into their game, demonstrating slick passing and consistently accurate shooting from Lisa Morrison and Dawn Manson.

They played a tactically sound quarter with Brenda Leask remaining at WD and Marie Clark moving to WA, giving Kinetics new players to unsettle their game. The final score was 59-28 to Team Rowley.

Overall Team Rowley dominated play, making few mistakes and linking well together. Kinetics worked hard throughout the game to try to close the gap. Players of the match were Josie Nisbet for Kinetics and Karen Bannister for Team Rowley.

Division Two

Arctic Security 40, Unst 33

Unst were first to settle with some great interceptions by GD Andrea Laurenson which were quickly converted into goals by Claire Priest. Arctic Security GD Sarah Kay retaliated quickly with an interception that was passed well down the court and GA Julie Brown got the chance to open Arctic Security’s score.

This seemed to settle Arctic Security and the game pace became fast with both teams holding onto their centre pass for most of the quarter. Arctic Security pulled slightly away at the end of the quarter with some great passing between Nicola Duthie and Heather Henry who fed the ball accurately into the shooting circle. At the end of the quarter the score was 11-8 in Arctic Security’s favour.

Unst came out determined in the second quarter and play was fast and furious. Anna Macaulay and Karis Burns were getting the ball to Priest at the edge of the circle who did not miss a shot despite being pushed to the edge by Kristen Johnston. Great defensive work from Kay was making life difficult for Unst GA Emma Niven, but her shots were also on target. Unst’s accurate shooting this quarter saw them pull back the score to 20-all at half-time.  

Both teams came out fighting with end-to-end play and each team rarely losing their centre. However, Arctic Security WD Hazel Aitken seemed to react fast to any loose balls, quickly getting the ball back up court to shooters Brown and Kayti Jeromson.

Both Brown and Jeromson were shooting well from within the circle with great balls in from Henry and Duthie. Arctic Security had to work hard to get the ball past Unst’s defence duo of Laurenson and Julie Munro. Some rebounds at the Unst end by Johnston and Kay were converted by Arctic Security to ensure a three-goal lead of 30-27.  

Unst had first centre pass but Arctic Security had an interception and turned it quickly into a goal. This seemed to settle Arctic Security into a calmer period of play. Both teams had strong defensive play, in particular with Unst being assisted by their WD Amber Inkster in blocking the shooters out of the circle.

Arctic Security had a lucky run of interceptions, converting all to goals to score five in a row. Both teams were looking tired but were fighting for every ball. There were some great balls into Priest from Unst WA Fern Johnson and again Priest rarely missed her target. However, Arctic Security’s run of goals ensured they maintained their lead to win the match.  

Supernova 47, Da McEwans 28

The match began evenly with both teams settling quickly. The ball moved swiftly from one end of the court to the other with Supernova shooters Liz Haining and Marianne Williamson and Da McEwans shooters Joanne Stewart and Emily Henderson rarely missing a shot. Supernova were just three goals ahead, 9-6, at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Supernova increase their lead with excellent linking play by Kristan Robertson and Helen Mathewson into the shooting circle, despite the tireless efforts of youngsters Ellie and Ruth Simpson in Da McEwans’ defence.

At the other end of the court Da McEwans shooters were working equally as hard to close the gap. However, Supernova’s Sharon Moore made some amazingly fearless interceptions, interrupting their flow. At half-time Supernova had further increased the gap with the score standing at 20-13.

In the third quarter Da McEwans defenders continued to work incredibly hard to contain the irrepressible Supernova shooters, who were showing tremendous form and rarely missing a shot.

Da McEwans struggled in this quarter to get past the Supernova defence of Sharon Moore and Jenny Wylie, despite every player fighting for every stray ball. Supernova continued to increase their lead by 16 goals, with the score standing at 35-19 going into the final quarter.

Da McEwans fought back in the final quarter with mid-court players Maggie Irvine and Eileen Robertson linking well with their shooting circle where the shooting duo were on fine form. Unfortunately it came too late in the game and Supernova’s lead was too great.

The players of the match were Ruth Simpson (Da McEwans) for her amazing defending, especially considering she has only just turned 14, and Sharon Moore (Supernova) for her fearless interceptions.

Mishaps 41, Hotfooters 36

The game got off to a great start with Mishaps scoring the first few goals through Leanne Tait and Alicia Hunter. However, this did not give them a great advantage over Hotfooters as they had a very stong attack, in particular Laura Cheyne, which resulted in them taking the lead in the first quarter.

Mishaps made a change in the second quarter, bringing Gayle Henry to WA which helped Mishaps close the gap. Mishaps worked well together but Hotfooters continued to apply pressure and only let Mishaps take the lead by one goal.

The third quarter saw little change in both teams. Mishaps’ Kara Thomson and Emma Inkster put a lot of pressure on Hotfooters with brilliant interceptions and defending. Hotfooters’ Anne Leask did well at pushing the ball up to her shooters but Mishaps were still ahead by one goal.

The final quarter saw both teams working as hard as they could to take a good lead. Mishaps’ Leanna Henderson made great passes and interceptions to get the ball to her shooters while Hotfooters’ Keria Kelly also made good interceptions. Towards the end of this quarter there was no stopping Mishaps as they worked hard to keep the ball going there way and took the lead by five goals.

Players of the match were Kara Thomson for Mishaps and Zoey Symington for Hotfooters.

Division Three

Dutch Courage 7, Ness 44

Ness took the first centre pass and fed the ball straight up to their GA Caroline Wood who put the ball nicely into the net. Dutch Courage went straight to it in their attempt to keep things even but their missed shots were quickly picked up by Ness GK Ruth Christie.

Play was relatively even throughout the quarter but Dutch Courage were unlucky with their shooting so Ness led at the end of the quarter 10-3.

Play started quickly in the second quarter with both teams looking determined to give it their all but it was Ness who settled first. WA Ashley Young moved well around the circle, passing accurately in to the shooters.

Any rebounds were quickly snapped up by Dutch Courage’s Jamie Cowie and Liz Brown but good intercepting from Ness’ Maya Whittall and Ailish Parham in mid-court prevented Dutch Courage having many shooting opportunities and it was eight minutes before they got their first goal of the quarter.

Ness displayed some fast and accurate passing throughout and had managed to extend their lead to 21 by half-time.

Dutch Courage started well in the third quarter, scoring the first goal. Ness quickly replied and continued to storm ahead with some great shooting from Clare Farmer and Caroline Wood.

Liz Brown for Dutch Courage made some impressive interceptions to interrupt play but Ness continued to press ahead to ensure a lead of 31-5 going into the final quarter.

Almost three minutes of play had passed in the fourth quarter before there was any sign of a goal, which came from Ness.

Kate Wills and Vaila Pearson for Dutch Courage linked well together to feed the ball into the circle but the defence of Ruth Christie and Ailish Parham was so tight and shooting opportunities for Dutch Courage were rare.

Players of the match were Liz Brown for Dutch Courage and Ruth Christie and Maya Whittall for Ness.