National League Division One

WESSEX TEAMBATH 3

ASHCOMBE DORKING 0

WESSEX TeamBath kept their bid for the National League title firmly on track when they comprehensively beat Ashcombe Dorking in straight sets.

The match was the first to be played this season at Weymouth Sports Club, started slowly for Wessex, as several attacking errors handed Ashcombe an early 2-5 lead.

Gradually however, Wessex found their rhythm and excellent blocking from Liana Herbert and Shauna Mullin began to give them the upper hand.

Henri Creasy and Simone Lewis also had attacking successes through the wing, and it was no surprise that the hosts took the first set 25-18.

The second set was even more emphatic, as setter Janna Rogers started to find her range.

Several very fast sets through the middle were met by Mullin and Herbert, to give Wessex a strong 10-5 advantage.

This was particularly pleasing as the hosts were forced to play several players in unaccustomed roles due to injury and sickness in the squad.

Former England international setter Simone Lewis in particular had to play in the outside hitting role.

Lewis lived up to the task brilliantly and scored consistently with well placed smashes throughout.

Also playing a fine match was opposite hitter Katja Gless, whose left-handed attacks also found their mark as Wessex doubled their advantage with a convincing 25-15 closure.

Ashcombe regrouped for the third set, and with a changed line up they came out fighting, but with home setter, Rogers playing her match of the season, it was Wessex who took control again.

Katja Gless produced a fine run of serves that pushed Wessex into a five-point leads, which enabled the home team to replace Creasy with Amy Birch on the wing.

This handed Birch her Division One debut. Straight away Ashcombe served on Birch, but not phased by her first top-flight start, she responded with a perfect defensive pass, which she followed up with a powerful smash in the next play.

There was no stopping Wessex now and the game was sealed 3-0 with a 25-19 set win.

Wessex: Birch, Creasy, Gless, Glover, Herbert, Lewis, Mullin, Rogers.

n Before the match Wessex TeamBath presented a signed matchball to 10- year-old Lauren Edwards of Southwell Primary School in recognition for her development in the sport over the last year. Lauren went on to represent Wessex as team mascot for the day.

Wessex hit the road this weekend, when they make the long trip to Leeds. The match will be played at Beckett's Park SC, Headingley on Sunday where there is an 11am warm-up.

Wessex (from): Birch, Brown, Creasy, Gless, Herbert, Medricka, Mullin, Orfanidou, Rogers, L Smith, J Smith, S Smith.

TODAY'S TABLE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

P W L F A Pts

City of Wolverhampton 8 6 2 22 11 20

Polonia Ladies 8 6 2 19 10 20

Wessex TeamBath 7 6 1 20 6 19

Warwick Riga 7 6 1 19 7 19

London Malory 9 5 4 21 15 19

Swiss Cottage 7 4 3 14 11 15

Leeds 7 2 5 9 19 11

Tameside VC 9 1 8 4 25 11

Ashcombe Dorking 8 1 7 7 21 10

Loughborough Students 6 1 5 5 15 8