CRESTA LEISURE 32

MERAKI 45

MERAKI earned a 45-32 victory over Cresta Leisure to get their new South & West Dorset League Division One season off to the perfect start.

Cresta began strongly as they turned over Meraki’s centre and scored the first goal. Strong pressure from Meraki did then keep the score close in first five minutes.

Cresta GA Sue Woolley in particular was playing well, both taking interceptions and scoring long shots, although multiple interceptions in the midcourt and control in attack from Meraki secured them a lead at the end of first quarter.

Meraki continued to put pressure on in the second quarter, while their C Lanni Sellick brought the ball through court well.

However, Cresta’s circle defence pairing of Lucy Astrid and Kate Patterson came up with plenty of ball and provided opportunities for their attack in this tight first half.

Meraki shooters Mandy Grafton and Emily Turnelty worked hard in the third quarter and their team pulled away. Cresta started the final quarter well but Meraki were quick to apply more defensive pressure.

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As the game drew to a close, both teams picked up the pace and intensity, however this resulted in some misplaced passes from both sides as Meraki took a reasonably convincing win.

EXPERT CATERING 53

BAY FENCING 21

EXPERT Catering started the new Premier Division campaign with a clinical 53-21 win over Bay Fencing.

There was strong attacking play from Expert in the first quarter, led by GS Rachel Scarff, with sharp movement across court and accurate shooting.

Bay showed good consistency in defence, which forced Expert to keep up their intensity. Bay then started the second quarter well, following some changes from Expert, and were able to apply pressure in defence, resulting in a more even second quarter.

Expert continued to capitalise on Bay’s errors in the second half, however both teams did have some scrappy passages of play as they become tired. Despite the game feeling well contested and competitive, Expert came out with a strong win.

NEW BODY FITNESS 40

COASTAL CHEESE 32

NEW Body Fitness also began the Premier Division season with a win, beating Coastal Cheese 40-32.

Both teams were evenly matched in the first quarter, with newly-promoted Coastal starting strongly and taking an early lead over last season’s runners-up.

New Body then caught up to the intensity of the match and the first quarter finished with the scores level.

New Body started the second quarter much better than the first, balancing the court nicely and showing good patience in attack, while their GD Laura Howell picked up some key rebounds.

Coastal kept themselves in the game, with their C Katie Riesema playing a crucial role in both attack and defence, the scores were still even going into the second half.

Coastal began to drop off the pace in third quarter, making errors that New Body capitalised on as they stepped up a gear. New Body began to dominate in the final quarter and eventually beat Coastal by eight goals.

ZEST 3

EXE TRAINING 63

NEW Division Two team Zest faced a tough first opponent in Exe Training who, despite having lost some of their players from last season, proved themselves too strong with a 63-3 win.

Although Exe were dominant throughout the match and did win by a considerable margin, Zest began to find their feet as the match went on and remained positive and enthusiastic until the final whistle.