Final games of the season didn’t have a huge amount of significance if you look at the league table for our Jades team but with a win last week, they were just starting to build some momentum and secure some good performances. This was about confidence and finishing strong this week but despite a second fixture against bottom of the league their first game was a high a high performing Grangers Thunder who sit second in the division.

A nice ease into their first game, starting at midday they had an opportunity to see Sapphires wrap up the division two league with a win and they got to cheer their sisters into glory.
There was some real focus coming from the ever growing Jades team this week, with talk coming from this weeks training sessions, using ‘sassy hips’ to change up direction and how they can ‘drive’ into space. Will they be able to put it into the game?

GRANGERS THUNDER VS BEDFORD TIGERS JADES
‘Rock, paper, scissors. - the first win by means of our armband wearing DEBNAM, S.
…but first blood went quickly to the Grangers side who moved the ball sharply and making an early dent with a neatly converted goal opportunity.

Grangers Thunder 1 Bedford Tigers Jades 0

It was clear as we delved into the first quarter that the Tiger girls were not going to get ‘rolled over’ in this game, there was a good feeling around their play and generally it appeared evenly matched. …and evenly matched they were as on the whistle to end the first quarter following a couple of opportunities coming by the way of PARKINSON, G, TOMKINSON, P managed to find the equalising shot - her first league goal and didn’t she know it! A surprised look of delight on last weeks Star Player’s face and she lapped up the celebration with a mini ‘lap of honour’ to mark the occasion.

Grangers Thunder 1 Bedford Tigers Jades 1

The second was another tightly fought out 5 minutes with no team being able to take advantage and much of the play being highly contested through the centre third with back and forth action. No goals to talk of.

Knowing there was a real opportunity here for the Jades, the volume ramped up from behind the cage with a higher turn-out then normal, the sound and support notched up (which was commented on by the umpire who couldn’t hear herself think! … Go on Tigers!)

Still Q3, there was nothing in it, very few chances came at either end… until a small passage of play found its way through to GATWARD, I in the D and she converted calmly allowing Jades to take the lead.

Grangers Thunder 1 Bedford Tigers Jades 2

The pressure then came and Grangers brought some of that ‘Thunder’ we had seen before earlier in the seen with some added pressure in and around the Tigers goal, SAMPLA, A and DEVONSHIRE, R managed to mop up the unsuccessful efforts and keep them from capitalising.

The final was in the same vane as quarter 3…. Defensive! KELLY, E making the difference with meaningful interceptions in the middle of the court, disrupting play and a busy PARKINSON, G making the difference.
The sidelines fingernails were getting smaller and smaller with the call to ‘keep the ball’, with a chance to secure what would be a unexpected victory against a side much higher placed in the league… and that win they did secure, cheers go up from around Court 5 for a well deserved and hard fought battle.

A quick hand shake from Grangers captain awarded to GRANT-JONES, S for her efforts in the match and it was straight off for a face-off with a young Westoning side.

Final Score - Grangers Thunder 1 Bedford Tigers Jades 2

BEDFORD TIGERS JADES VS WESTONING MERCURY
The Jades were a game away from completing their first ever back to back wins. Something which now seemed a realistic prospect, up against a Westoning side who they have bested before but nothing was guaranteed.
A win would surely give the girls that finishing push up the league and gather an additional couple of positions.

It was a dis-jointed start with a delay in the arrival of Mercury to the court. Strangely, the time was added on and made for a really short quarter with little times for either team to get into the game. ….but chances started to come, movement through the middle landed with GRANT-JONES, S into the D, a shot rebounded but a secure and confident RUSSELL, G mopped up the rebound to kick the Tigers off.

Bedford Tigers Jades 1 Westoning Mercury 0

Into quarter two, Jades were made to work to find space, DE LUCA F putting into play some of those defensive qualities we practiced in training.
RUSSELL, G found her self in possession in a prime spot and lately she rarely misses these opportunities … and she did not disappoint.

Bedford Tigers Jades 2 Westoning Mercury 0

It was a non eventful quarter but the third was not going to be the same, with a growth in confidence playing out on the court, Jades were stringing passes together more easily through GATWARD, I and GRANT-JONES S… this time the ball landing with our newest Jade; DEVONSHIRE, R who finished clinically.

Bedford Tigers Jades 3 Westoning Mercury 0

The flood gates have started to open and a brace of goals came from a consistent SAMPLA, A who has regularly got herself on the scoresheet this season.

Bedford Tigers Jades 5 Westoning Mercury 0

The final play saw a rebounded shot gathered again by DEVONSHIRE, R who notched her second of the day just on the bell.
Not conceding was a great achievement for the girls and a real show of growth as a team.

Final Score - Bedford Tigers Jades 6 Westoning Mercury 0

PARKINSON, G awarded the players player awarded by the Westoning girls and that concluded a season filled with ups and downs but great fun, great determination and so much growth…. As a team, each player individually and an improvement which will take them into the cup competition brimming with confidence.

Drawn into the ‘Dragons Cup’ the girls must fancy themselves as contenders and a chance to take home some ‘silverware’.

Star Player - KELLY, E
For her dogged efforts in both games, busy all around the court and putting in those ‘extra hard yards’ when it mattered.