Second half domination not enough for netball firsts
UNIVERSITY OF YORK FIRSTS 27 vs. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHUMBRIA THIRDS 29
BUCS Northern Conference 4B, Wednesday 4th February 2009
York’s netball team were the narrow losers in a thrilling encounter against Northumbria thirds on Wednesday. The home side were outplayed in the first half, but responded with some fantastic netball in a rollercoaster second and only just missed out on completing an unlikely comeback.
The win puts Northumbria level on points with York in BUCS Northern Conference 4B, tightening up the division and making York’s fixture with league-leaders Huddersfield next week even more crucial. With only three games remaining, the race for promotion looks set to go right to the wire.
York had won the corresponding away fixture earlier in the year 26-25, and in the early stages a similarly close game looked on the cards. York had large amounts of possession, yet were unable to convert it into points as they continually missed close shots. Northumbria took advantage and started to play quick and stylish attacking netball meaning the game opened up and the visitors took their chances well. When the quarter ended the visitors were only 10-7 ahead but looked far superior.
York improved defensively in the second quarter with Grace Marsden, who was outstanding throughout, marking Northumbria’s equally impressive Goal Shooter Rachel Bradley competently. York brought on Emily Harrington as a replacement Goal Shooter and in her first movement she scored. However Northumbria’s passing play was at times stunning, and they used fast counter attacks and impressive shooting to split the tight defence. At half-time the score was 16-11 to Northumbria and, although York were improving, the better team was undoubtedly winning.
(George Lowther)
However, in a rollercoaster second half strong performances from Sarah Pycroft and Liz Cowell would turn the game around, with York dominating for long periods. In the early stages of the third quarter the ball was rarely out of Northumbria’s defensive third. Goals from Pycroft and Goal Shooter Sarah Fisher – who had been brought back on in the second half – took the score to 16 – 17. With the come back so close to completion, Northumbria recovered and in some lightning-fast, penetrating moves restored their five point lead. It did not look like it would be York’s day.
However, before the intensely exciting period had ended York had scored three more points to take the score to 22-20 going into the final quarter. Northumbria looked rattled and retreated to their half for an intense team talk before eventually coming back to the court. In contrast, York were only too ready to play the final quarter.
York pressed brilliantly in the last 15 minutes, with superb play from Pycroft and Marsden. However, despite a strong opening five minutes where York even took the lead, the brilliant shooting of Northumbria’s Bradley proved too much for York. At the end of the game they looked as if they had given all they could give but Northumbria left the field as deserving 29-27 winners.
Captain Tess Olsen said after the match that it had been a “great performance” despite the loss, with the “play down the court being much better than when we visited them”. She said that “it was a close match. We have fought hard and thought we had it in the end.”
“Next week we have the home advantage over Huddersfield and it should be a close game”. It is likely to be exactly that, and also a game that will be crucial for York’s promotion boost.
York Line-up: Sarah Fisher, Sarah Pycroft, Cesca Dessain, Liz Cowell, Katie Brunskill, Tess Olsen (c), Grace Marsden. Substitutes: Emily Harrington, Jenni Williams
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