Close matches as battle for top spot in netball third division hots up

There were very close matches in the third division of the netball leagues last week, with leaders Hotfooters and second-placed Scallywags defeating Team Tingwall and Hooligans respectively. Meanwhile Team Rowley saw off AHS in division one while Supernova edged out Da McEwans in the second division.

Division One

AHS 20, Team Rowley 43

No match report was submitted.

Wastside v Kinetics

The game was postponed due to snow.

Division Two

Da McEwans 24, Supernova 32

The first quarter was very even with both teams starting in fighting spirit. McEwans shooters Emily Shearer and Joanne Stewart were converting a series of passes from Deborah Mowat into well worked goals.

At the other end Marianne Williamson and Liz Haining were shooting equally well, meaning that they were one goal up at the end of the quarter.

The rest of the game followed a similar vein, with Supernova slowly edging ahead as the game went on, playing particularly well in the third quarter to pull away from McEwans with a seven-goal lead.

Alice Unsworth had a very strong game in centre court, linking play well from defence to the shooters, and influencing play.

McEwans defenders fought well and got several interceptions throughout the final half of the game, breaking Supernova’s rhythm, and feeding the ball well up court. They tried to put pressure on the Supernova defence at the start of the last quarter by scoring four quick goals in succession. However, Emma Rose in particular was strong in preventing a comeback with consistent play, linking up well with her fellow defenders.

Overall it was a good, competitive match with Supernova coming out the stronger and finishing with an eight-goal advantage.

Division Three

Hootfooters 31, Team Tingwall 28

Leaders Hotfooters took on second-placed Team Tingwall in a closely fought game. With each team settling quickly into a fast paced passing game the first quarter ended 7-7.

The second period started with Tingwall pushing ahead and very quickly had a five-goal lead with Jennifer Wadley and Paula Sinclair particularly effective in the attack. Credit to the Hotfooters as they clawed their way back into the game with Iona Holmes taking several rebounds to regain possession. The half-time score was 16-14 to Tingwall.

Changes to the Tingwall line up saw Sinclair move to GS, Wadley to C and Karla Stewart coming on at WA with Gillian Morrison at GS and Laura Cheyne at WD being introduced for Hotfooters. A tense quarter with never more than one goal separating the sides finished level at 22-22.

Hotfooters scored the next three goals with Hayley Tulloch and Liza Fullerton shooting well under pressure. They stretched the lead to six goals with four minutes to go.

Tingwall began their comeback, dominating the latter stages, but left it a little to late as Hotfooters held on to win.

Players of the match were Jennifer Wadley for Team Tingwall and Hayley Tulloch for Hotfooters.

Scallywags 37, Hooligans 33

Da Hooligans won the first centre pass which signalled the start of what was to be a very fast, competitive game.

Both teams were very quick to settle and it was not long before Da Hooligans opened the scoring but Scallywags were soon matching them goal for goal. As the quarter ended, it was Scallywags who led 9-6.

Both teams made changes with Scallywags moving Naomi Johnson to GA, Anne-Marie Robinson to GS and Joy Duncan into GD. Da Hooligans saw Lara Kay move back to GD, Rhea Kay to GS and Zoe Irvine come on as WA.

With the second quarter under way, there was great passing from Da Hooligans’ Karis Irvine, through to Zoe Irvine and in to Valerie Sales who was on form with her shooting, making Scallywags’ Duncan and Laura Saunders work tirelessly in defence.

Scallywags were also making life difficult for Da Hooligans’ defence with great balls being fed through from Gwen Malcolmson to Anne-Marie Robinson who was also finding the net with her accurate shooting. As the half time whistle went it was Scallywags who led 19-15.

With the third quarter under way both teams were proving that this was a game that could go either way. Scallywags’ Malcolmson, Johnson and Henderson were linking well in the centre court, feeding balls in to Robinson who was on form with her shooting. But Da Hooligans’ Lara Kay was quick on the rebounds, making sure the ball was being fed back up to Rhea Kay and Valerie Sales who were also shooting accurately.

As this quarter drew to a close it was Scallywags who went into the last quarter leading 30-23.

With everything to play for in this final quarter, Da Hooligans saw Zoe Irvine come back on as WA. This proved to be a great move by Da Hooligans with very fast accurate passing between herself and Karis Irvine through to Valerie Sales.

Although Da Hooligans dominated most of the play, Scallywags never gave up and were feeding balls through to shooters Johnson and Robinson who were finding the net.

This was a very fast quarter and as the final whistle went it was Scallywags who won by four goals. Players of the match were Da Hooligans’ Lara Kay for her great defending and Scallywags’ Anne-Marie Robinson and Naomi Johnson for their shooting.

Scalloway Juniors v Ness

No match report was submitted.