Excellent start to the New Year for Wokingham South Squad

Match Report:  NRG  v Wokingham (09/01/2011)

Score:  Win 42 v 39

Captain: Kimberley Holt

TeamManager: Tracy Stone

Coach: Tracy Carter

Player ofthe Match: Hayley (GK)

Team: Kelly (GS), Christa (GA), Jenny A (WA), Jo (C),Kimberley (WD/GD), Tracy (GD), Hayley (GK), Charlene (WD), Helen (WA).

What a start to 2011! Sussex NRG have been unbeaten all season.... until now! Despite the Christmas break, we all turned up and performed brilliantly as ateam!

We started the match well; taking a lead on the first centre. This positive start gave us the confidence we needed to take them on. Every player was focused and playing well.

Defence was solid. Both NRG shooters had excellent accuracy and so Hayley’s and Tracey’s (and later Kim’s) interceptions in thecircle were invaluable at keeping our lead.

The ball flowed down court nicely; with players utilising the cut backs and drives practiced in training. After the initial confusion of space between defence and attack, the team adapted and started reacting to each other’s moves much better. Defence helped bring the ball upwell with Hayley often taking the second ball off the backline and Kim/Tracey(and later Charlene) helping bring the ball up the court and effectivelybacking up the attack. Passing was far more accurate today with minimal balls thrown away... except when the sun through the window blinded us!

Jo had an excellent debut as Centre today; her stability and vision when feeding into the circle was an asset to the team.However, credit is deserved for the whole of attack as this was, in my opinion,their best game this season. The ball flowed nicely around attack; utilisingthe fall range of passes and options to outwit what is renowned to be a veryeffective defence. The shooters stats and confidence remained high throughoutthe game.

NRG were obviously rattled by the battle on theirhands; forcing them to completely change their team around at half time;requiring us to adapt to their new style of play.

The third quarter saw frustration kick in on the Wokingham side as we lost our lead and ended the third quarter drawing.However, after a team talk we pulled ourselves together and went onto the thirdquarter with confidence and determination to regain our lead. We started thefinal quarter well; adapting well to our ¾ time changes and quickly regaining our deserved lead. Unfortunately, Charlene then went down when she reinjured her fingers and she had to come off. However, the strength of the squad meant that we were able to make the substitution and maintain control and style in our play.

The last 5 minutes saw Sussex panicking to get the ball into their shooters; however, luckily our defence was too strong and weheld them off for a well deserved 42-39 win.

Well done girls!

Kimberley Holt