Black hold nerve to clinch title
Jets win final game to finish a point clear of Fusion
JETS Black were crowned Newbury Netball League Steiner Premier Division champions on Sunday.
They went into their final game against relegation-threatened Brights knowing a win would seal the title.
And they were made to fight all the way before clinching a low-scoring 24-20 victory.
A cagey first quarter ended with Jets 6-2 in front and the second quarter followed the same pattern with excellent play from both centre court players, especially Brights best player Jemma Wells who controlled the game.
At half-time Jets led 12-8 and they began to pull away with some impressive shooting from best player GA Maddy Ettridge supported by Nikki Barrie and Jill Moran.
Trailing 20-13 going into the last quarter, Brights had a reshuffle, bringing on Gemma White to help find the net.
And they narrowed the gap to just four goals before running out of time.
Brights now need at least a point from their final game
against bottom club David Wilson Homes if they are to climb out of danger.
Jets’ victory meant that Fusion’s 53-14 win over David Wilson Homes was all in vain.
The defending champions finished just a point after a thrilling run-in to the season.
Fusion quickly took control, scoring eight goals without reply through Nikki Coleman and Maggie Taylor.
DWH came out fighting, with WA Holly Boddle working tirelessly, but they still trailed 31-9 at half-time.
Fusion were restricted to 11 goals in the third period, but with best player Holly Humphreys (GD) in dominant form, they allowed DWH to score just one goal in the final quarter.
Robinson Foods secured third place with a 57-31 win over Hungerford Extras.
Robinsons led 15-4 at the first break and moved 31-10 up at half-time.
Extras hit back to reduce the deficit to 40-22, but accurate shooting from Helen Thompson and Catherine Jones sealed the win.