Netball team maintains a winning run by beating club rivals (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Netball team maintains a winning run by beating club rivals

Cirencester B netball team maintained an unblemished winning record by defeating the club's C team 47-17 in last weekend's local derby at Kingshill.

It was, though, with some trepidation that the C squad commenced this return match against their local rivals on a freezing Saturday afternoon.

With both the B and C team in the same league, it proved difficult for some to play a competitive game against opponents they knew so well.

As it was, the first quarter started off badly, leaving the C team trailing 6-17.

The second quarter saw the employing a different strategy and bounce-passing.

Centre Hannah Potter did her best to keep the ball flowing with good support by WA Kate Woodward and firm defending from GD Liz Brown, WD Sarah White and GK Lorna Irwin.

Nonetheless, the B team held a 27-7 advantage at the half time interval.

With the substitutions of WA Kate McKinnon and GK Kate Crook, the GA Phillipa Martinez and GS Rachel Gentil, the C team at last began to match their opponents goal for goal following the break.

The defence team kept up the pressure, trying to ensure that the B team did not go beyond the 50-goal point at the end of the match.

At the end of the third quarter, the score stood 13-37 to the B team.

Steady passing ensured that the C team gave a poised performance and the end result of 17-47 was not one that they need be ashamed of.

For the B team are a much better, more experienced squad who have not yet lost a match this season.

Although new and inexperienced, it was quite obvious to the casual onlooker how much the C team has improved in both fitness and technique since the first time they played the B ladies.

All credit goes to GA Phillipa Martinez and GS Rachel Gentil who have improved immeasurably and also to man of the match Liz Brown who is making the position of Goal Defence her own.

Thanks also go to umpires Sarah Evans and John Gapp.