PUBLISHED 09 October 2021
The AKS Year 10 Netball team started the tournament well with a good 5 – 2 win against Cardinal Allen despite not playing their best netball. Great defending from Evie F and Pryanka R frequently won back possession and, with Libby C always an outlet, we moved the ball down to our attacking circle well and Captain Charlotte C converted effectively to put our first points on the board in the round robin tournament.
The second game saw us against a well organised Garstang team and the final result could not have been closer. We worked hard all over the court but a lack of structure in our play and inaccuracy in our passing saw us frequently give possession away and fail to convert scoring opportunities in the first half. The second half saw us improve the timing of our dodges and we kept possession more effectively to enable us to edge ahead at the final whistle to win 5 - 4 and add more points on the board.
The third match proved to be the decisive one against eventual winners Millfield. A lack of space meant both teams struggled to get free and play good netball and it was a low scoring, scrappy affair. A lack of control in our play saw us frequently give the ball away to Millfield, who were quick to capitalise and they went into a narrow lead. Despite not playing with the necessary composure we did get back on terms and had chances to go into the lead but again our passing gave the ball away and Millfield got their noses ahead before the final whistle to take all the points , 2 – 3.
The narrow defeat meant we had to win all our other games to be in with a chance of finishing at the top and in the fourth game we started to play with much more control and accuracy. Improved spacing out enabled everyone to get free more readily and we played some great netball to record a close win against St.Aidans (3 – 2).
Game 5 saw us against neighbours Lytham and we raised our game to play far more controlled and disciplined netball and put into practice some of the tactics we had worked on in training. We found space and got free effectively to enable us to move the ball down the court in order and at the final whistle we had another win on the board , 2 – 1.
Lifted by the improved effectiveness of our tactics we finished the tournament in style with two superb wins. Against Fleetwood we passed quickly and accurately with Jess A, Hollie B and Sophie F linking our attack and defence well and shooters Carly W and Charlotte C improving their conversion rate considerably to record an impressive 7 – 0 win.
We continued our impressive play in the final game against Carr Hill to record our best win, 8 -0. Great defending by all the team when out of possession frequently won us the ball back and then effective movement and dodging enabled us to move the ball down the court efficiently. More great work in the circle and shooting from Carly and Charlotte kept the score moving along and at the final whistle we were celebrating our 6th victory and claiming second spot.
Evie Finnigan was the ‘player of the tournament’ for her superb workrate and excellent defending which frequently won back possession and made it difficult for the opposition shooters to score.
Millfield were crowned as champions after remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.