SURREY STORM - HERTFORDSHIRE MAVERICKS
SURREY SPORTS PARK, Guildford.
1930, Monday 7th February
A brisk start by the Hertfordshire Mavericks saw them storm into a
five goal lead against a mis-firing Surrey. The home side just
couldn’t get possession and after taking the ball seemingly at will
Mavericks delivered it to their shooters - Louisa Brownfield and
Monique Wood were only too happy to pop it in the net. More than one
Maverick got on the wrong side of New Zealander Faye Meicklejohn who
was taking no lip from protesting players, punishing them by advancing
their opponents up the court where necessary, and that on a night when
she was awarded her International Standard. Rose Morgan Smith was
highly active and in one move pulled off an outrageous catch and pass
mid air on the circle edge delivering the ball perfectly to her
waiting shooter. And while Hannah Reid and Katy Holland were making
it tough for the Mavericks attack it was the other defensive trio of
Keable, Guscoth and Buchanan who were making the most impact. Surrey
Storm trailed their London rivals 7 -12 at the end of the first quarter.
Quarter two and even the TV commentator Charlie Brougham was on his
feet to get a better view of a cracking game of netball for fans.
There were errors but it made the match more unpredictable. The
biggest battle was under the Storm post where England team-mates
Rachel Dunn and Lindsay Keable were locked in a territorial dispute.
After sliding six goals behind at 8-14 Storm finally seemed to
recognise the danger their opponents presented and rallied; slowly
they hauled themselves back into contention. Dunn found more
possession by making a move around the circle. A medical time-out for
treatment to Louisa Brownfield, who stayed on court, did little to
halt the come-back as Storm moved just one goal behind. But more
sterling defensive work from the Mavericks stemmed the flow and they
led 24-20 at half-time.
Camilla Buchanan took over the C bib for the Hertfordshire based side
at the start of the third quarter with Georgie Schmidt taking on the
WD duties and Mavericks pressed on, with five minutes to play they
were seven in front. The visitors attacking play had more dynamism and
vim and they were taking their chances better than Storm. They moved
eight ahead in the quarter and going into the last 15 minutes it was
Storm 30 Hertfordshire Mavericks 35.
Mary Beardwood made changes in the last quarter, Rhiane McHale on at
GA for Gemma Consentino, Natalie Seaton moved to GD and Steff Bello
came on at WD. The final quarter was an elastic one, with the
Hertfordshire outfit unable to pull clean away. Layla Guscoth was
named player of the match but it was a hard call with some excellent
play at times from all the Mavericks.
Hertfordshire Mavericks head coach Maggie Jackson:
Hertfordshire Mavericks player of the match Layla Guscoth
Surrey Storm head coach Mary Beardwood:
Surrey Storm Captain Louisa Brownfield
