Difficult game as netball team falls to its third defeat
HINCKLEY A headed to Stockton on Saturday to play their 5th league game of the season. So far Hinckley As have won 2 and narrowly lost 2.
Both sides were low on numbers and had been hit by injuries. Hinckley were slightly slow to start the game, with Stockton beating them to second balls and being more dynamic down court.
However Hinckley As persevered and when they had the ball were effective, getting the ball into the shooting circle. In the second quarter Hinckley continued to push on, Stockton’s strong attack was pressurising Hinckley As not usual defence but they kept working hard and turned over a few balls in defence.
As the ball moved down court, Hinckley As had to work hard and it was difficult to get in front and come forward to meet the ball. Half time score was 28-18. Hinckley As felt a change needed to be made to ensure the ball flowed down court as smoothly and effectively as possible with an end result being a goal.
Thanks to the B team substitutions, Hinckley As changed the approach of their game. This made the game slightly more dynamic in the third and fourth quarter and Hinckley were making the most of their chances. The defence worked effortlessly to keep the experienced shooters out of the circle but down to very accurate shooting, Stockton stretched their lead further. A difficult game for Hinckley As. Final score Stockton 55 - Hinckley 36. Player of the match Ashleigh Oakes.
Hinckley C team played away at Alvis and started the game in the lead with a strong attack and a great defence.
Sadly at the end of the first quarter they went behind and their heads went down. After a good team talk they tried to crawl their way back. The defence tried to keep the GA out of the game but their attack was very strong. Hinckley started to play together, with some great links between GK (jo), GD (Leane). Going down the court Jess (captain and WD) kept the team calm and composed with great blocks and passes into the goal third.
Sue, centre, was always there to offer and worked her socks off. Lucy, GA, was getting herself into some great positions but the side struggled to get the ball consistently fed to her and the GS (Lucy). Overall their game improved but they couldn’t close the gap and lost 43-27.
Hinckley D played Copsewood E at home with seven of their 10 squad available this week. With a new starting formation Hinckley started the game pretty positively with steady play finishing the first quarter just behind 6 – 10.
During the second quarter Hinckley could not get the ball fed into the attacking circle and struggled to defend against Copsewood’s very accurate shooters finishing the quarter 7 – 27.
A change around in positions for the 3rd and 4th quarter was needed and confidence then grew during the latter stages of the game.
Hinckley slowed the game down with short accurate passes up and down the court using their defence to reset the attacking drive into the goal circle. With some lovely movement by Hinckley’s GA and great holds and positioning around the circle edge, GS became more confident and assertive as the game progressed.
At the defence end the change around of GK, GD and WD was enough to stop Copsewood running away with the last quarter and were only able to score 5 goals to Hinckley’s 6. Final score was 17 – 50 to Copsewood. Player of the match went to Dasia Wheatley for her great movement throughout the court playing C, GD and GK.
It was another difficult game for Hinckley U14s against a tough Ambleside. Despite playing well and working the ball down the court, and improving each quarter, Hinckley’s girls struggled with their confidence against Ambleside’s experienced players who took the win. Player of the match Grace Dimbleby.