Belle sink Waterside

BELLE CONSTRUCTION 37 WATERSIDE 34

BELLE Construction dug deep to secure a long-awaited victory over fellow top-flight heavyweights Waterside at Budmouth.

The game was nip and tuck from start to finish with both teams producing some superb netball.

Excellent shooting from Clare Stenhouse edged Belle 11-8 in front after the first quarter but Waterside’s court play improved after that, giving them more opportunities to hit the target.

Fine centre court play by Amy-Jane Hunter provided superb feeds and her shooters ensured the deficit was reduced to just one going into the second half.

Belle then made full use of their substitutes with some key tactical changes, with the main one seeing Kelly Browne move to goal-attack where she worked well alongside fellow shooter Jo Peters to help her side move four ahead going into the final period.

Waterside again hit back with Susan Lee and Alison Holmes finding the net every time they were given the opportunity, but in the closing stages Belle goalkeeper Jane Taversham upped the pressure on the pair with some superb rebounds to ensure her team held on for a 37-34 triumph.

LUGGER INN 33 GW ELECTRICAL 27 GW Electrical turned up the power in the final quarter but it was not enough to overcome the Lugger Inn.

Unforced errors cost GW dear in the early exchanges, particularly with opposition shooter Elaine Robertson in such clinical mood, as the Lugger raced 20-11 in front by the halfway stage.

Goal-defence Caroline Goode worked hard to stop the flow of goals but it was not until the last period that her side finally found their form.

GW completely dominated in the closing stages but in the end it proved too little, too late as the Lugger went on to claim a 33-27 success.

Division One

LUGGER LEISURE 21 WATERSIDE 63

WATERSIDE produced another top-class display in a 63-21 thrashing of Lugger Leisure.

Despite being a player down, Waterside’s swift passing game completely outpaced Lug-ger and they were soon boasting a 14-7 lead.

Susan Lee then began to find the net with regularity and although Lugger continued to work hard they were never really in it.

Bernie Johns was the standout player for the losing side but one could only marvel at Waterside’s class as they continue to look strong contenders in the top-flight once again.

BELLE CONSTRUCTION 54 GW ELECTRICAL 18

BELLE Construction saw off a battling GW Electrical outfit with relative ease to keep their quest for the title firmly on track.

GW matched Belle in the early exchanges with goalkeeper Elaine Sanderson particularly impressive, but as the game wore on the league leaders slowly, and in the end emphatically, got on top.

Excellent court play from youngsters Amelia Stout and Caitlin Dive, and some tireless work in defence by Jane Taversham, was at the heart of Belle’s impressive display but there were also some fine displays in the GW ranks too, particularly from goal-defence Emma Carter, who kept her eye on the ball at all times and made some fabulous blocks and interceptions.

The game was played in a great spirit but in the end Belle emerged clear winners, 54-18.

Division Two

TEAM WAIKIKI 24 KEMET 43

LEAGUE leaders Kemet were in dynamic mood as they snuffed out the challenge of Team Waikiki in Division Two.

Excellent defending and shooting saw Waikiki take an early lead but Kemet returned more composed in the second quarter and began to stamp their authority on the game.

Despite that though, the table-toppers’ lead at halfway was just four goals as Waikiki goal-defence Jo Baldwin continued to work hard to keep her side in the game.

Keen to gain some clearer daylight, Kemet brought on shooting ace Carolyne McKay at the start of the third period and it proved a masterstroke as they stormed to an unassailable lead.

To their credit, Waikiki then hit back in the third but their opponents proved too strong as they went on to secure a 43-24 victory.

TEAM WAIKIKI 32 O JO’S 43

TEAM Waikiki continue to prop up the table following a 43-32 defeat against O Jo’s in Division Two.

Waikiki started well but their opponents soon stepped up a gear with their shooters producing some excellent shots to give them an early 14-6 lead.

O Jo’s then went on to maintain that dominance with great court movement, allowing the ball to flow easily between centre court players Mandy Langton, Kathy Sims and Candice Dennis.

Waikiki were beginning to struggle and suffered another major blow when Sam Cowley was forced off through injury.

That prompted the bottom club into a couple of changes with experienced keeper Vicki Winter entering the fray.

Those switches immediately paid dividends and Waikiki went on to match O Jo’s throughout the second half.

Unfortunately though, the upturn in fortunes came too late as O Jo’s hung on to ensure they remain on the coattails of those at the top of the table.

Division Three

TOYMASTER 28 Poundbury GARDENS 29

TOYMASTER produced a fine display against Poundbury Gardens before eventually falling to an agonising defeat by the most slender of margins.

High-flying Poundbury made an excellent start with Hennie Green and Lorraine Kellaway putting them into an early lead. But when Toymaster added a new shooter to their line-up at the end of the first quarter it changed the tide with just four points separating the two sides come half-time (17-13).

Toymaster continued their assault with some fantastic play by centre Sandra Chaplin but in the end Poundbury just about saw it out with the game eventually closing 29-28.

NEW IMAGE 29 SGM HAIR 27

HIGH-FLYING New Image overcame SGM Hair in Division Three despite only having six players.

New Image forged ahead with dynamic circle-edge passing to their shooters but SGM battled hard defensively with Di Durden and Helen Norcombe doing their utmost to keep the opposition at bay.

Despite being without a wing-attack, New Image continued to keep up the pressure and by half-time they held a 15-11 lead, a deficit they went on to maintain in the third quarter thanks to some accurate shooting from Sue Bennett.

However, SGM then came back right into the game in the final period by completely overpowering their rivals only for the comeback to fall two goals short as New Image held on to win 29-27.

* For further information on the adult and junior leagues visit southwestdorsetnetball.co.uk