Top-two finish now Team North’s focus
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NORTH’S third team began their Senior County Championship Division Four campaign with a 7-4 victory over the Scottish Midlands and a 9-2 loss to Cumbria Two.
Following a number of late withdrawals, Newcastle University students Mantej Singh Bahra, Yap Yi Xuan and Prakash Navaneetharajah stepped up to the plate for the opening match against Cumbria.
Despite three set efforts from Desmond Lau and Melvin Cherian, the latter making his senior debut and unfortunate to go down narrowly 21-18 in his decider, North failed to trouble the scorer in the singles.
That was until Rachel Bogan, also making her senior debut, came from a set down to win 17-21, 21-18, 21-10.
Noth fared little better in the doubles losing both men’s, although Bahra and Navaneetharajah did take a set and the top ladies - meaning the match was gone at 7-1.
Jess Wright and Anna Railton took their ladies doubles in fine style 21-13, 21-9 to make it 7-2.
North were strengthened by the inclusion of two further Newcastle University students Rex Lee and Michael Taylor against the Scottish Midlands.
It was Lee who scored first, taking the top singles in two sets.
With Bogan winning, again in two sets, and a sterling effort from Ellie Roberts which saw her home 21-18, 17-21, 21-18, North led 3-2 going into the doubles.
The men’s were shared and aother fine win from Wright and Railton, who romped home eight and six, took North to the brink of victory.
Estelle Burgess and Laura Nichols took an early lead in their match, changed ends at 11-5 and held firm to win 21-12.
The match won then at 6-3 with CHRIS Bunten has targeted a toptwo finish in the WBBL as he seeks to soften the blow of missing out on a cup final berth.
Team Northumbria head into the Christmas break still reeling from their failure to best border raiders Caledonia Pride in last weekend’s BBL Cup semi-final.
However, Bunten remains convinced that his roster has what it takes to lift a trophy this season – and is now fully focused on a strong second half to a so-far frustrating campaign.
“We will come back in January looking to push on and take the fight to our WBBL rivals,” said TN’s head coach.
“I’m not sure anyone will be able to catch Sevenoaks Suns at the top of the table but we’re right in the mix in the race for second place.
“We are a talented team and we should be fighting for honours.
“Missing out on the cup final was a huge opportunity lost and I’m still looking for answers as to why that happened.
“It’s come at a bad time – just before the extended break – but I will look at the video and try to work out what I did wrong as a coach.
“It’s also important that the players take a degree of responsibility. Had we not allowed Pride to race into a first quarter lead then I’m confident we would have claimed the win.”
Only three points separated the teams come the final buzzer as the visitors clung on for a 66-63 victory.
The hosts had clawed their way back into the game, however a fourth quarter rally proved too little, too late for Bunten’s side.
TN played catch up for the entire game after allowing Pride the freedom of Sport Central throughout a one-sided first period.
The hosts came into the clash as clear favourites after a league victory over Pride only two days just the two mixed left. Lau and Nichols took their opening set 22-20 before the Scots rallied to take the second and third - but that only narrowly 21-17.
Taylor and Burgess also had a tight opener, edging home 24-22 before a similarly close second eventually saw them over the line 26-24. before the semi-final.
However, TN’s dream of making a showcase final was quickly shattered after the Edinburgh outfit raced out the blocks – leaving TN trailing by 13 come the end of the first quarter.
Despite the hosts looking close to a comeback on a number of occasions, Pride continued to keep their noses ahead after every quarter.
With three minutes remaining in the fourth period, TN found themselves trailing by just two points.
However, the final nail in the coffin came as Caledonia’s Robyn Lewis sunk a three-point shot that was greeted by gasps from the stands, as it became clear TN’s cup run was over.
“I still haven’t dared to look at the video and I just don’t know why we didn’t match them at the start,” added Bunten.
“However, we can’t look back. We’ve got to make sure we’re competitive when the league starts again in January.”