NETBALL: Week of Somerset cup action for Galmington and Taunton Netball Clubs

ON Sunday, Galmington hit the M5 and headed to Bristol to take on fellow Regional League 1 side Whitchurch.

After a close game, the visitors found themselves on the wrong side of a 44-38 defeat.

That was despite a standout performance by Arnie Brown in centre court, who was voted player of the match by her team-mates as well as the opposition.

Player of the match and opposition player of the match: Arnikah Brown; sponsor: Admiral School of Motoring.

Regional League 2
Pinehurst 48, Trident 36

GALMINGTON’s Trident started well against Pinehurst on Saturday, with the first quarter being goal for goal and ending 14-12 to the hosts.

Pinehurst then moved up a gear, but the visitors put on a full defensive pressure to pull the lead back 26-20.

The second half was well fought by all the team, but ultimately they lost out by 12 goals, meaning they just missed out on a bonus point.

POM: Juste Mockeliunaite; OPOM: Jaz Chester; sponsor: Joseph Wood Builders.

Somerset KO Cup
Hovelands 70, Harlequins 31

HOVELANDS made it through to the next round of the KO Cup, with a new line-up and a convincing win over Quins.

They used the opportunity to work on tactical play including the “zone”, but were never complacent.

Gina Sayer, Heather Manning and Laura Preece all excelled, but the standout player was the returning Natalia Sexton, who played like she had never been away, with her accurate feeds into the circle.

POM: Natalia Sexton; OPOM: Laura Preece; sponsor: PW Pepperell and Son.

Somerset KO Cup
Claremont 63, Hawks 56

CLAREMONT won 63-56 after a really good game against Hawks.

The whole match went goal for goal until last quarter, when the Galmington side stormed ahead.

POM: Gina Sayer; sponsor: Somerset County Sports.

Somerset KO Cup
Parkfield 26, Newton 46

IT was a nervous start for Parkfield as they took on Newton of Yeovil at Taunton Vale on Saturday morning.

Newton play a league higher than the newly-formed Parkfield team, and started and finished strongly, but the Galmington girls dug deep as they always do, and produced some dream-like passages of play.

Up-and-coming player Ella Silsby took the plaudits for her determined effort on the wing.

POM: Ella Silsby; sponsor: eat the bird.

Somerset KO Cup
Bishops 58, Queensway 23

QUEENSWAY had a tough draw in this round of the cup, once again playing the undefeated league leaders Bishops in Wells.

Wet weather and a court that had to have the puddles swept away before the start set the scene for a tough match and defeat for the visitors.

However, it was a big improvement on when the two teams played last.

Queensway’s attack struggled at first but worked fluently come the third quarter, creating some impressive turnovers.

POM: Bev Boobyer, Carol Manning, Sophie Anderson; sponsor: One Day Like This.

Somerset KO Cup
Newbarn 24, Spears 60

NEWBARN took on Spears of Paulton on Saturday.

Despite the loss, they put in a fine team performance against their higher-ranked opponents.

They held their own in the first quarter, with some excellent defending, but Spears’ shooting was so strong and the Galmington team struggled to get the ball up court at times.

POM: Jo Mellor; sponsor: Being Your Best.

***

PRIORY: From left, Andrea Dobson, Maisie Reynolds, Lucy Cox, Amy Toole, Tina Follett, Kate Durbin, Linda Holder.

South West Netball
Regional League 3
Taunton Vivary 52, Titans Thunder 32

HAVING beaten Titans Thunder in their previous encounter, Vivary were looking for another win and started well with a strong first quarter to take a 12-8 lead.

Despite Titans trying to up their game, Vivary held strong and extended their lead to 26-17.

Vivary began to tire in the third quarter, allowing Titans Thunder a better quarter but the final quarter saw a last push with every player pressuring Titans’ game.

They capitalised on their errors and brought the ball smoothly from defence to attack and to goal to register another excellent win.

POM: Isla May; OPOM: Faye Symons. Squad: Fee Grammer, Emily Tong, Freya Bryant, Faye Symons, Isla May, Lauren-Jade Griffiths and Gracie Stevens; with thanks to Vicki Cornish, Hannah Robins and Meg Palmer for reserving; sponsor: Shine Hair Management

Somerset KO Cup
Priory 49, Reckleford 29

PRIORY started off a few goals behind so spent the first quarter trying to pull back and gain a lead.

Their fast and accurate passes into the circle allowed Priory to do this, ending the first quarter 11-10.

An unfortunate injury to WD Andrea Dobson in the second quarter saw Amy Toole change position and Nicole Smith join the team at GD, within minutes finding her feet and gaining many interceptions.

These were taken down the court by Kate and Tina and passed straight into the shooters who duly converted (24-19).

Priory kept up their determination in the third quarter which was the strongest for shooters Lucy and Maisie, scoring 14 goals and pulling away from Reckleford by 16.

Linda and Nicole worked tirelessly in defence and allowed just three goals into the defensive net (38-22) and they pulled away in the final quarter for a great win.

POM: Lucy Cox. Squad: GS Lucy Cox, GA Maisie Reynolds, WA Tina Follett, C Kate Durbin, WD Andrea Dobson/Amy Toole, GD Amy Toole/Nicole Smith, GK Linda Holder. Sponsor: Matt Durbin Associates

Somerset KO Cup
Blackdown 41, Sydenham Rubies 26

BLACKDOWN started strongly in the first quarter of this first round tie, turning over Rubies’ first centre pass.

With some strong centre court passing and good feeding into the shooters from Sarah Hughes and Sian Blake, Blackdown had a lead of 10 goals at the end of the first quarter.

Great defensive work from Hannah and Nicole meant Blackdown went on to take the second quarter 24-12 but Rubies came out strong in the third quarter and managed to turn over a few of Blackdown’s centre passes.

Blackdown held strong and, with some great shooting, finished the third quarter 32-19, before going on to secure victory.

POM: Hannah Robins. Squad: GS Tanya Binding, GA Tasha Levy, WA Sian Blake, C Sarah Hughes, WD Abbey Teape, GD Hannah Robins, GK Nicole Smith. Sponsor: Mortgage Select.