It’s only been a few weeks since Glasgow Wildcats travelled to Leeds Carnegie for their first meeting in the 2011 FIAT Netball Superleague in a game that left members of both teams feeling rattled. The return fixture was more enjoyable for all concerned.
“We set ourselves a target of scoring 15 goals in each quarter,” Carnegie coach Lisa Ferneyhough admitted, “and we started well.” Leeds made their target in the first 15 minutes as Glasgow struggled to find their attack force, and that ten goal difference made the rest of the match an uphill struggle for the home team.
Carnegie had been unhappy with the match officials last time out but had no complaints this time around, praising the umpires for the way they controlled the game and kept play moving.
Wildcats won the second quarter 14-12, after giving their shooters a chance to get them in the game - they’d only had eight chances before the first quarter whistle but created 18 more before half-time. The see-saw tipped the other way at the start of the second half with the visitors seizing the initiative, a few changes helped Leeds to their second quarter win of the match; Laura Malcolm replaced Steph Wilson at wing-defence, and during an injury time out Dani Bloomfield made way for Francine Hall in the centre. Carnegie were penetrating the circle better creating more shooting opportunities - Glasgow were more accurate but had fewer chances to drop it through the net. It’s been a tough season on the ankles of Leeds players, with two serious injuries sustained by team-mates before this Round 10 game, now Rachel Shaw’s name is added to the list after she landed awkwardly giving her joint a sickening crunch. The match was delayed while she received treatment before being taken to hospital, Dani Bloomfield returned to the court to take the wing-attack position. It was a big finish from Krista Enziano who had 17 attempts and netted 82% of those, just three missed.
Wildcats felt their own errors stopped them from pushing ahead in the game and head coach Denise Holland said they suffered from their slow start: “We competed for three quarter disappointed with the satart which cost us dearly.”
It was the other way round for Leeds co-coach Lisa Ferneyhough: “I thought this was a good game and we played well, starting well and finishing well.”
Glasgow’s captain Claire Brownie was frustrated by the score-line “It was a disappointing result. Tonight’s game was not a true reflection of how we can play.” Lisa O’Sullivan Match Umpires Lucas Van Hoff and Debbie King
