A battle of top versus bottom in the FIAT Netball Superleague
The visitors put up a strong defensive performance and were backed up with some sharp shooting from Darcie Worsdale (81%), Northumbria prevented Mavericks from imposing their will on the game.
Quarter 1, Sasha Corbin earned her first start for her new club; Louisa Brownfield was roaming at GA for once with Vicklyn Joseph handed responsibilities under the post from the beginning. A solid opening from the home-side against a team that has been starting well before faltering in the second half. Team Northumbria were contesting the ball well and netted 100% of their shots .
Q2: Team Northumbria’s shooters seemed to be suffered from a lack of confidence in the early part of the second quarter, and they were being given a hard time by Mavericks defenders Keable and Schofield; the result was they were feeding on scraps and were being forced to take their chances from distance. Team North did well holding back the onslaught from Maverick, fielding 4 England internationasl.
Q3: Tracey Neville’s side are coming along in their Superleague development, as their possession ball in the third quarter proved. With Mavericks shutting down the A-channel of ball, Team North were forced to take the long way round to get the ball into the circle, there was plenty of composure in their movement down the court. Shaunagh Craig, a promotee from the NTL side came on at GA for Mavericks. Some great turnover ball from both sides in this quarter, Sasha Corbin with flying interception, Abi Ryan tipping possession her way in the circle.
Q4: An excellent finish by the visitors. In the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter only eight goals were scored - four apiece. It was defensive end-to-end stuff - with the ball going from one circle to the other but rarely passing through the net. It was only with four and half minutes to go that the home side turned on the tap and got the goals flowing again.
QUOTES: Head Coach, Hertfordshire Mavericks Maggie Jackson: "We were not consistent although we made it clear we were playing a variety of different combinations. All credit to Northumbria, I think Tracey's done a great job in the shooting circle. I though Darcie and Olivia did a really good job. It's clearly obvious that Tracey's been there working with them."
Louisa Brownfield Mavericks captain "We knew they were going to come out hard and they weren't going to give us anything easily. I think we had good defence through out the court we're fairly happy with how it went."
Tracey Neville, Head Coach Team Northumbria " Tonight we went a little bit different in our start-up, we had our young Olivia Mason (17) at GA, I thought they put out a really, really good performance. They slowed Mavericks down, we didn't convert enough turn-over and that's some thing we've got to work towards."
Natalie Connor captain of Team Northumbria "We've worked really hard, we know it's going to be a few years before we really compete but today we stuck to the game plan. We didn't win but we feel we really challenged."
