SIX Taunton Netball Club teams began the year with their first games of 2017 on Saturday, January 7.

Third-placed Vivary, sponsored by Shine Hair Management, hosted top-of-the-table Glastonbury’s Knights in the Premier Division and claimed a superb 49-32 victory.

Vivary anticipated a tough game but with their home crowd behind them, they came out strong, delivering excellent play and scoring three unanswered goals.

Despite Knights applying constant pressure, determined not to concede their first match of the season, Vivary took an early lead of 13-7.

The second quarter was more equally matched but saw Vivary maintain their lead with some excellent feeds to their shooting circle and brilliant long distance shots (23-17).

Knights’ attack came back fighting in the third quarter, making Vivary work harder to keep their lead, but Vivary’s defence still limited Knights’ shooting chances (35-26).

Vivary pulled away in the final quarter for a brilliant win– a great team effort drawing from the sideline support.

Player of the match: Gracie Stevens. Squad: GS Fee Grammer, GA Emily Tong, WA Hannah Robins, C Susie Marsh, WD Lauren Knight, GD Nicole Smith, GK Gracie Stevens.

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SECOND-PLACED Tone, sponsored by Ian Hunt Builders, hosted third placed Glastonbury’s Abbey in Division 1, winning 53-31.

Tone got off to an excellent start in the first quarter, with the defence working hard to break down Abbey’s play and allowing them to score just five goals (15-5).

Abbey made some position changes in the second quarter, unsettling Tone who made some unforced errors – losing the quarter but keeping their lead (23-16).

After Tone’s dip in performance, the third quarter was their strongest and highest scoring (39-23).

And Tone finished the final quarter making and converting turnovers whilst limiting Abbey’s shooting opportunities to consolidate their win.

POM: Amy Lewis. Squad: GS Vicki Cornish, GA Amy Lewis, WA Freya Bryant, C D’Arcy Rowlands, WD Kim May, GD Nicole Smith, GK Lucy Monk.

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QUANTOCK, sponsored by Mecca Bingo, hosted league leaders Glastonbury’s Avalon in a top-of-the-table Division 2 clash, losing out 43-41.

Both teams started strongly, anticipating a tough match.

Despite Avalon’s first centre pass being turned over by Quantock, the visitors took the lead at the end of the first quarter (12-17).

The second quarter saw second-placed Quantock fight hard, determined to close the deficit, but Avalon’s tactical play kept them ahead (22-26).

Quantock started the third quarter strong, capitalising on unforced errors from Avalon and scoring three unanswered goals, but still trailed 32-36 at the end of the third quarter.

Quantock’s final quarter was by far their best as they closed the gap amid unforced errors from both teams, but they were not quite able to catch up.

POM: Charlotte Denman. Squad: GS Lucy Cox, GA Charlotte Denman, WA Kate Durbin, C Kim Radford, WD Ruth White, GD Iona Stokes, GK Linda Holder.

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SEVENTH-PLACED Priory, sponsored by Matt Durbin Associates, played club-mates Blackdown (in sixth) in Division 3, drawing 34-34.

Both teams fought hard in the inter-club game, with Taunton welcoming Faye Symons back on court following an ACL injury.

The first quarter was evenly matched (9-9).

Blackdown fell behind during the second quarter (20-16) but started to close the gap in the third quarter (29-27), managing to reach a draw with Priory.

POM (Priory): Zoe Stacey. Squad: GS Zoe Stacey, GA Felicity Lukacs, WA Becca Willy, C Josie Thompson, WD Siobhan Cleverly, GD Ria Binding, GK Helena Desave.

POM (Blackdown): Faye Symons. Squad: GS Helen Cleverly, GA Maddie Borer, WA Kate Stubbins, C Faye Symons, WD Sarah Hughes, GD Mel Reynolds, GK Becky Jones, sub Sophie Bond.

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TUDOR, in third, hosted sixth-placed Glastonbury’s Thorns in Division 4, taking the win 31-20.

Tudor got off to a slow start, trailing 7-4 at the end of the first quarter.

The team then started to gel, winning the second quarter to take a 12-10 lead.

In the third quarter Tudor continued to create chances with strong play centre court, increasing their lead to 23-15.

A much more competitive final quarter saw Tudor fight to keep their lead and register their win.

POM: Sophie Bond. Squad: GS Emma Burns, GA Sophie Bond, WA Jo Avison, C Louise Frost, WD Trish Hutchinson, GD Verity Stone, GK Tanya Binding.