Malmesbury A netball team defeat their Melksham A hosts (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Malmesbury A netball team defeat their Melksham A hosts

MALMESBURY A netball team were delighted to win their away match against Melksham A in the Wiltshire Moonrakers First Division League by 31 goals to 26 at the weekend.

In the home fixture against this same team earlier in the season, Malmesbury narrowly lost in the last quarter.

In last Sunday's bitterly cold conditions, a fired-up Malmes-bury got away to a slow start and, at the end of the first quarter, were trailing 5-9.

The second quarter, however, saw a great turn-around and the game level picked up by both sides.

Malmesbury attackers, particularly Rachael Towl (GA), had a great defensive game, which helped give the team more control within their own circle.

The second quarter ended with Melksham holding a slender 15-14 lead.

The circle defenders, Elaine Foxall (GK) and Hannah Wreford-Bush (GD) used new tactics to great effect, causing disruption within the opposition's circle.

Good reach by both defenders contributed greatly to the score that remained close at the end of the third quarter with Melksham leading 22 goals to 21.

In the final quarter, though, Malmesbury really got it together and played as a team, supporting each other the whole way to get a pleasing victory.

This result was thoroughly deserved and Louise Stroyd (WA) was voted as Malmesbury player of the match.

Thanks go to Maggie Sparrow, Malmesbury's training coach and umpire, who umpired a well contested match.