Kinetics and Loungers play out high scoring draw in netball’s top flight

Whalsay beat Unst despite a determined effort from the North Isles side, but Kinetics and Loungers played out a high scoring draw in netball’s first division.

Division 1

Whalsay 26, Unst 14

Whalsay settled first and took an early lead with new shooter Ingrid Nicol showing natural flair. Whalsay continued to dominate the second quarter with tight defending and accurate shooting which added to their lead, 15-3.

Unst reshuffled their team and rattled Whalsay in the third quarter with great passing, determined defending and accurate shooting ending the quarter 19-10. But Whalsay rallied in the final quarter with the return of June Williamson (GS) to see Whalsay settle into their game to win 26-14.

Player of the match for Whalsay was Vaila Kay and Alice Mullay won the title for Unst.

Kinetics 37, Loungers 37

Loungers won the first centre pass, and were quickly 3-0 up. Kinetics soon found their rhythm and levelled the scoring to four-a-piece. Both sets of defenders were working hard, and play continued to be end to end. At the end of the first quarter the score stood 9-8 in Kinetics’ favour.

Due to the tightness of play, both teams re-entered the court with unchanged line-ups. Kinetics were playing calm and smooth netball. Lesley Spence (GK) & Kristen Jeromson (GD) were marking tightly, forcing the Loungers shooting duo to shoot from long range. However, Loungers’ Ava Sim (GS) was managing to get quickly to rebounds, turning them into goals.

This was well matched by Sarah Grogan (GA) and Kirsti Leask (GS) at the other end for Kinetics. As half time closed, Kinetics were still edging ahead by 18-17.

Amber Inkster replaced Cheryl Simpson (WD) for Kinetics, and Julie Grant replaced Diane Thompson (WA) for Loungers. Fiona Shearer (C) and Louise Fraser (WA) for Kinetics were feeding well in to their shooters, however the long arms of Jennifer Thompson (GD) and Kristen Johnson (GK) were tipping out the rebounds.

Vikki Henderson (C) snatched up any loose balls, and quickly lobbed them up to the awaiting Stella Oldbury (GA). She fed through to Sim, who calmly netted the ball. A better third quarter for Loungers saw the score level at 28 all.

Going into the remaining quarter, both teams were keen to make no mistakes. Hazel Uren (WA) came on for Loungers, and injected some pace into her team. A slower start by Kinetics saw them trail by six goals at one stage. Inkster and Shearer started to block Oldbury out of her circle, which appeared to slow down their scoring, and get Kinetics back into the game.

Leask and Grogan refocused and turned chances into goals. They levelled the score, before going one ahead in the dying seconds. Fortunately for Loungers, Sim netted to again level the score at 37-37 as the whistle blew for time.

A hard fought game saw Ava Sim outstanding at GS for Loungers. For Kinetics, Lesley Spence (GK) picked up the honours for her dogged defending.

For second and third division reports and all tables and fixtures, see this coming Friday’s Shetland Times.