Firstly, a public apology for the late match report for this week… a busy week admits prioritising plans for the end of season summer bash scheduled for 28th June got in the way. But plans for the summer event are well on track and should make for a fun filled day for all. . . With everything from presentations, awards, fun activities and a live DJ, to start us off!
Psst! Did I mention you need to go over to our ‘shop’ on the website and grab your tickets. There is only two weeks to go and we are doing our best to plan for the numbers we are expecting.

….anyhow, back to some netball.
I don’t know about anyone else, despite enjoying some much needed weekends back, the 3 week without a game seemed an eternity and from a coaching perspective I have already seen first hand how a break can set about a little rustiness amongst our teams.
Getting back to Friday’s training really made that clear… a lot of fun had by all as always but many had forgotten how to catch and throw a ball it seemed. What happens in half terms, I do not know!

Sapphires topping the league by winning every game they played in did not deflect the reality of what was likely to be ahead for us in the cup.
For those not use to the weird and wonderful world of netball, at the end of the league season, the cup competitions begin. You are drawn in a group and in that group you will play a series of teams, some you play once, some you play twice…. Those you play only once are counted as ‘doubles’ (your reasoning is as good as mine!). But oh no, there is more! The games you play in the cup are not scored traditionally but by each quarter. Each quarter essentially being a mini game. If you win a quarter you score 2 points, draw a quarter you score 1 point and well if you lose, you get nothing. The end result counts for nothing also.
I digress! Because Sapphires won the division two the cup drew us against second place Rubies and 3 teams from division one! Now in my mind our hard work was done, play for the enjoyment of it, the success we have already had was an achievement beyond what all of us could of expected. . . But…. You know what its like when Sunday rolls around and you get out onto court. We still wanted to win! but as the heading of this piece indicates, that wasn’t to be.

Down to the mere 8 this week having lost out to the sport of Football whereby L MARTIN was playing in a tournament and would miss these two games for the Tigers.

CUP GAME 1
First up was a Westoning side. I am not sure why but playing in the first division I was expecting a much taller and physical presence as they stepped onto the court but girls all quite slight (later we would find out this was to be their strength).

Lulled into a false sense of security from the whistle as the ball played from a N MAHWING centre straight down the court and into the unassuming net of the Venus girls by our top scorer L HABERSHON.
The lead didn’t last long and it was clear from that point onward it was going to be a tough 20 mins. An equaliser was served straight back and with a much nimbler and fast footed team across the court they had the Sapphires caught on the back foot. The girls did certainly step onto the court with some ‘ring rust’ which slowed them down but undoubtedly the Tigers had not played a team yet with the dynamic movement all over the park and their well-rounded squad. 4 conceded in quick succession and the first quarter was lost.

FIRST QUARTER : WESTONING VENUS 4 BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES 1

Looking slightly stunned and struggling to stay with their markers found Westoning 2-0 up early on in the second quarter. Chances did come for the Tigers and on another day would have undoubtedly been converted. Attackers were proving difficult to mark as they punched in and out of the Tigers D and with a cancellations goal towards the end of that quarter, it was another quarter lost. That being said, despite not seeing the best of the Sapphires so far they were still keeping each quarter competitive and as we come to expect from this group of girls, they were never going to give up!

SECOND QUARTER : WESTONING VENUS 3 BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES 1

The third, a white wash, going down by 5 without a response and mistakes with basic passing, it was clear that we hadn’t made it quite back from half term yet. 3 quarters lost and the game was done, with much of the play in and around the Tigers net this time around and despite valiant efforts from some, they seemed to just need an extra set of arms and legs to cover the space required.

THIRD QUARTER: WESTONING VENUS 5 BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES 0

Desperate for us to have something to focus on. A small pep talk later and Tigers were into the final quarter.
Cup matches may not be the format that suits this team if we had thought about it, many of our victories coming late in the games and a team renowned for the ‘never give up’ attitude maybe isn’t going to play into the Netball cup competition?
An early penalty given away, had the feeling of more to come as they struck the first blow again but that wasn’t to be, a clear greater spring in their step and a more sharper Tigers team were in front of us. Counter attacks saw 1-2’s being played between L HABERSHON and O PYECROFT to get two on the bounce from PYECROFT to take us in the lead for only the second time in the match. Despite Westoning drawing level at 2-2, a classic final push from out girls saw a winner in the dying second securing O PYECROFT’s hat trick and securing the final quarters win.

FOURTH QUARTER: WESTONING VENUS 2 BEDFORD TIGERS 3

…so a rude awakening for these young Tigers and a taste of their first defeat. How did they respond? As they always do… impeccably! Disappointed! Good! They want to win and they don't want to lose. It’s great to see. Team spirit! They come together, got their chins up and focused on the next challenge. Proud moment!

CUP GAME 2
Over to court 9 (I do not know why but I do not like this court) for a face off with some familiar faces… BCNC Rubies! Our rivals in the second division where every game was close fought and a team who pushed us to the wire for the league. This game was going to be no different!
It was going to be a cagey match all round with limited opportunities for both teams and a low scoring game of netball.
The first quarter was back and forth in the centre third and the only thing to separate them was a well placed long range effort from a BCNC attacker, giving us a loss in the first quarter.

FIRST QUARTER: BCNC RUBIES 1 BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES 0

With the Jades surrounding the court in support, waiting for their final game we were even more determined to put on a performance. Another battle through the 5 minutes with the difference this quarter coming by the hands of the Tigers and a well fought ball from E AYLING who calmly tucked one home.

SECOND QUARTER: BCNC RUBIES 0 BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES 1

Back we go again…. A replay of the first two quarters, no one team could seemingly get the edge. A slight lapse in concentration on the whistle saw a late goal by the Rubies who nicked the win.

THIRD QUARTER: BCNC RUBIES 1 BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES 0

The tempo in the final quarter seemed to go up and half way into the quarter E HIGGENS had a shot denied by the rim, successfully gathered by G AYLING who steered the ball home confidently. The remainder of the time was spent in the same fashion and with the physicality going up a notch as the clock ticked down. Some purposeful and aggressive lunges from D LYNCH is what was needed to break up play despite the umpires calls and the tigers saw out the last quarter for the win, finish the match all square.

Another excellent game of netball between these two well matched sides.

FOURTH QUARTER: BCNC RUBIES 0 SAPPHIRES 1

Next week see ourselves pit our skills against a Maulden and Westoning side from the first division. Its great learning for the girls and a step in the right direction irrespective of the results.

STAR PLAYER - O PYECROFT for her tenacity in defence and equally at the other end of the court with some clinical finishing. Well done.