Yr 8 B Netball team pick up runners-up medals at Fylde & Wyre Tournament

PUBLISHED 12 November 2019

AKS Year 8 netballers braved the wet and windy conditions to take part in the Fylde & Wyre U13 tournament at Stanley Park and came away with some impressive results with the B team picking up runners up medals and the A team finishing in a creditable 3rdplace.

The B team took a while to get used to the windy conditions and slippery ball in their first game against Hodgson who took an early lead. We slowly started to keep possession more effectively but the windy conditions made converting our shooting opportunities difficult and at the final whistle Hodgson had won 2 – 0. The second game against Millfield saw us use shorter, more effective passes and we went into an early lead with good shooting from Katie & Daniella. Millfield got a goal back before the break but in the second half good defending from Maisy and Sophie W limited Millfield’s scoring chances and Katie and Daniella  converted our opportunities to seal our first win and points on the board. We went into the final game knowing a win would put us into the semi-final and we played our best netball of the day. We kept possession more effectively with good centre court play from Holly and Jessie linking our attacking and defending thirds and with Katie and Daniella again converting the opportunities created we went into the break 5 – 0 ahead. The second half saw us continue to play accurate netball and at the final whistle we had moved further ahead to win 9 – 0 and secure a place in the semi-final. In the semi-final we faced St.Aidans. We started well converting our first centre to take an early 1 – 0 lead and with great defence regained possession to go further ahead. At times both sides were guilty of giving possession away in the driving rain but all the girls did well to maintain their focus and we went further ahead. St.Aidans got a goal back and made us work hard to get free and keep the ball but at the end of the game we had edged ahead to a 5 – 2 win and secured a place in the final against Hodgson. Having lost to them in the section we knew we were up against a strong team and so it proved to be. Despite our best efforts Hodgson marked closely and made it difficult for us to keep possession and create scoring opportunities with us often giving the ball away in the final third. Hodgson then capitalized of their possession and they edged into a lead at half time. The second half went the way of the first and despite us raising the accuracy of our play we could not match the Hodgson scoring and we had to settle for runners up medals.

The A team started their campaign against arch rivals Lytham and produced a superb performance to record their first win in three matches. Great defending from Pryanka and Evie made it difficult for the Lytham shooters to get the ball in the circle and with Jessica & Carley linking play superbly we moved the ball down the court well. Great circle play from Charlotte T and Charlotte C saw them create shooting opportunities close to the post which they converted to take us into an early lead. We continued to play controlled netball in the second half and at the final whistle had our first points on the board with a 6 – 2 win. Our second game against Fleetwood saw us raise both the accuracy of our passing and movement and we created a number of scoring opportunities which were duly converted by Charlotte T & Charlotte C and at the final whistle it was an impressive 9 – 0 win and more points on the board. The third game saw us against a strong St.Aidans side. Pryanka worked hard against the very tall shooter but all too often we gave possession away in the final third and failed to convert our possession into goals whilst St.Aidans converted at ease and at the end of the game St.Aidans celebrated a 6 – 3 victory.  The final game in driving rain against Cardinal Allen was a scrappy affair. A lack of movement and inaccurate passes saw us again give the ball away too often and in a low scoring game the result was in doubt until late on but at the final whistle it was a narrow 1 – 2 defeat. With semi-final places very close the team were soon celebrating as when the scores were worked out we had qualified for the semi-finals. In the semi we faced the eventual winners Hodgson. We worked hard to stop the quick Hodgson players getting free but despite our best efforts they went into an early lead with accurate shooting. We enjoyed some good possession of our own but all too often a rushed final pass into the circle saw Hodgson regain possession and go on to add to their score. To their credit all the players continued to work hard in both attack and defence but at the final whistle it was Hodgson who progress into the final and we had to settle for a creditable 3^rd place.

All the girls must be congratulated on their superb efforts and standard of play in very difficult cold, wet and windy conditions throughtout the afternoon.