Cheshire Teams from Lancashire match

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  Northern Counties League 2007 - 2008 Season

Cheshire Under 16s, Under 14s & Satellite Squads successful in away match against Lancashire

A superb shooting display by Lauren Bradley and Megan Rowley powered Cheshire Under 16A to a fantastic win over Lancashire on 9^th February in Leyland on Saturday February 9th.  The game started at a fast pace with both teams playing high quality netball moving the ball down the court with precision.  The midcourt combination of Victoria French (WD), Jasmin Lane (C) and Rachel Porter (WA) were in telepathic form with Rachel Porter and Megan Rowley dazzling with some lightning quick interplay and accurate shooting Cheshire took the first quarter 12-7.

Lancs introduced some new members at the start of the second quarter, and they fitted in well to the home side's swift, accurate game plan.  However Cheshire’s defensive duo of Katie Porter and Amie Napper were inspired, picking off a number of key interceptions, and the quarter was drawn 10 all.

The third quarter gave the crowd at Leyland more thrilling action, with plenty of end to end action.  Coach Brien introduced Laura Darroch at WD moving French to Centre and this proved inspirational with Darroch making a number of key interceptions, and with Bradley and Rowley sinking several key shots, it gave Cheshire the quarter 12-6 and a 34-23 lead with 15 minutes to play.

Lane rejoined the action for the final quarter, and her partnership with Rachel Porter once again had the crowd roaring their approval at slick, speedy interplay and precision passing with Darroch and Katie Porter frequently leaving the Lancs side flatfooted.  However, Lancs were not defeated, and with the shooters netting some key shots during the quarter, they kept the pressure on the Cheshire side.  However, the greater experience and understanding of the Cheshire side from their recent tour to Scotland gave them the edge, and the gap was too great for Lancs to close Cheshire were the winners 42-28.

In the Under 16B game Cheshire again came away with the spoils winning the game 27-23 in a tightly fought game in which the defences were on top. Cheshire GK Emma Jones and GD Emily Illot were outstanding, picking off many Lancs passes.  The Fumerola sisters, along with Holly Dymond, worked tirelessly in the centre court giving excellent service to the shooters Hannah Phillips and Jenny Holme.  Lancs led at half time 13-9 but coach Brien brought on Imogen Horner for the injured Pereira and moved her centre combinations around to excellent effect and Cheshire surged back to lead 18-16 at the end of the 3^rd.  The team then dominated the fourth quarter with Jones and Illot giving the Lancs shooter no space and limiting their chances Cheshire pulled away to record a magnificent double.

Northern Counties League 2007 - 2008 Season

South Durham v Cheshire 27th October 2007

Cheshire County U14 Match Report

by Stacey O'Donnell

A blustery, cold Saturday morning and the girls are up bright and early for the long journey to South Durham. All was quiet on the coach as they began to bond as a team on their first away trip of the season.

Arrival at South Durham was greeted with happy faces as players were united with their dresses for the first time since their parents wrote the cheque!

A thorough warm up highlighted the sheer facts of the day – FREEZING COLD and extremely WINDY.

The ‘B’ squad were up first. A nervous but very able team took to the court. Difficult conditions meant a steady start by the team who took a 6-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. They built on this each quarter and were 15-6 up by half time. A slight change to the shooting circle witnessed Megan Randles and Katy Swan taking to the court. The two gelled well together and worked hard in conjuring up an additional 29 goals in the remaining 2 quarters. Strong performances by Eve Bannister and Abbie Lynch held the goals out of the Cheshire net, with Abbie making some remarkable and well-timed interceptions. The final score – Cheshire 41 – South Durham 14.

Next was the ‘A’ squad. With a tough act to follow all were ready to get on with their jobs on court. Immediately the team started pulling away with some excellent goals by Lucy McDermott and Harriet Oulton. Between them they caused the defence no end of problems and this was reflected in an 18-3 score line at quarter time. The pressure put on South Durham continued even though conditions worsened. The wind became almost gale force as did the team. By half time a healthy 29 goal lead was intact - a score of 34-5. Half time saw two changes with Chloe Darroch being replaced by Hannah Dymond and Ami Pickerill replaced by Emily Wilkes. Immediately Emily made a massive impact and intercepted the ball on many occasions to turn defence into attack. The score line continued to grow and although South Durham worked hard and moved well around the court, Cheshire continued scoring and advancing. The final score – Cheshire 57 – South Durham 11.

All players from both the A and B squads should be proud of themselves and what they achieved during the match. Every player played a vital role and contributed to the fantastic score lines and winning of all quarters in both matches.

The journey home was again quiet but an air of excitement filled the coach. All were proud and excited about the heights the squads can achieve. The squads continued to bond and left with many new friends and familiar faces for the forthcoming training sessions and matches.

Northern Counties League 2007 - 2008 Season

Cheshire v Tyne and Wear - 24th November 2007

Cheshire County U18 Match Report

by Kevin Rowley

Cheshire's Under 18 squad began its Northern County League competition with an impressive 60-19 victory over Tyne and Wear in front of a packed house at the Woodford Lodge High School on Saturday. Cheshire Coaches Rowley and Brien took the opportunity to give their bench players court time in this fixture, and they responded by keeping the scoreboard ticking despite the changes in combinations. GS Courtney Perks was in impressive form, netting 22 goals from 26 attempts, despite the close and physical attentions of the Tyne and Wear defence.
 

Tyne and Wear came out at top speed, but seemed to lack the necessary control to make the best use of their pace, and made several errors early on which were snapped up by Cheshire. Shooters Bev Stokes and Sarah Coleman were in good form putting away the chances created by the midfield of Alicia McKenna, Charlotte Burgess and Corrine Kinvig. The first quarter ended 10-7.

Coach Rowley and Brien once again switched their options, reverting to the Alex Barlass Midcourt and attack with the dynamic Emma Taylor out at WD, and her reach and anticipation caused Tyne and Wear problems in the opening minutes. From the start, Cheshire's attacking unit looked particularly slick, with Kinvig at C and Burgess at WA combining with flair and precision. Meanwhile, Cheshire's shooters took the opportunity to fine-tune their games and all found the net with impressive accuracy, with Stokes and Perks scoring at 80% accuracy or better.

Cheshire soon opened up a five goal lead, which they stretched to 16  by the end of the 2^nd quarter. However, Tyne and Wear refused to be overawed, and their shooters using some neat interplay to drive into their attacking circle at the start of the third period, they pulled back two goals. However, McKenna and Laura Walker were now on song, and with Kate Campbell and Katie Hamilton picking up several key interceptions in the Tyne and Wear circle, the scoreboard soon started to tick over again in Cheshire's favour and they went ahead 42-17.

Cheshire' stranglehold on the centre court was key to the side's success, limiting the visitors to only 35 shooting attempts throughout the game, and despite switching combinations at every quarter time, Tyne and Wear could find no way through. Hayley Preece at WD and Rachel Chadwick at WA continued to dominate their opposite numbers.

 
Cheshire cut loose in the final 15 minutes, with Walker reintroduced at GA to reunite her partnership with Perks. Rowley switched Sheward to GD and Hamilton to GK, but Cheshire's defensive control did not waiver, and they powered to a simple 60-19 victory.

Under 18s playing in Cheshire Elite League

by Kevin Rowley

Sat 5^th April 2008

Cheshire Under 18’s   48          South Cheshire Premiere B  31

Cheshire Under 18’s showed why they are riding high at the top of the Elite League table with a convincing 48-31 win over a South Cheshire Prem B side at Woodford Lodge on Saturday 5^th April.

At times, South Cheshire Prem looked fraught and panicked as they tried to keep up with the speed and accuracy of the confident Cheshire unit, who led 14-5 at the end of the first period and never looked back.

Shooters Bev Stokes and Sarah Coleman’s speed and movement within the circle was a problem for all the South Cheshire Prem defenders, and Kate Campbell and Rosie Sheward in defence kept their focus and confidence in the first half despite the pressure imposed by the South Cheshire shooter.  Hayley Preece and Corrine Kinvig replaced Alicia McKenna and Charlotte Burgess in midcourt, and Cheshire continued to dominate play moving the ball quickly and effectively through the court to the shooters, leading at half time 28-12

With a number of players unavailable for this fixture, coach Rowley took the opportunity to give court time to some younger squad players with Jenny Bazley having an excellent game at WA and WD.  Meanwhile, Alicia McKenna and Corrine Kinvig kept up the shooting accuracy and with Rowley trying different combinations the scoreboard moved on to 38 – 21 at three quarter time.

South Cheshire Prem's were not overawed by their opponents and continued to press right through to the final whistle. The final quarter was a closely fought and entertaining affair, with Burgess and Kinvig making some excellent interceptions and with Charlotte Burgess in particular, inspired with her feed to the circle Cheshire Under 18’s took the advantage with Stokes, now in at GS, continuing to score freely, they finished the match worthy winners 48-31 to finish the Elite league season on a high.

The Under 18’s now travel to Tyne and Wear on 19^th April to compete in the Northern Counties Tournament, prior to playing an international Tournament on the Isle of Man.

23rd Febuary 2008

Cheshire Under 18’s   48            Northwich    35

Saturday 23^rd February saw Cheshire under 18's play Northwich in a top of the table clash in the Elite league.  Northwich had brought back their ex England GA for the game, along with ex county u14 coach Lydia Naylor playing in the circle.

The first quarter was a close affair with both teams scoring off their centre and little between them. Shooters Bev Stokes and Courtney Perks were linking well and with Lauren Joseph marking the GA well the quarter ended 11-10 to Cheshire.

Coach Rowley then introduced Jenny Bazley and Sarah Coleman on the wings with Kelly Woods at GA and Emma Taylor at Centre.  This allowed the Cheshire team to maintain a fast tempo to the game and use their higher levels of fitness to increase their lead at half time.

In the 3rd quarter debutant Katie Porter switched to GD and made some excellent interceptions and linked well with the superb Katie Hamilton in the Defensive circle.  Coleman at WA was driving well and feeding the shooters with precision and Perks was in imperious form scoring at over 90%.  Corinne Kinvig, Hayley Preece and Joseph all returned for the last quarter and shut down any space left by Northwich.  GA Woods was dominating the circle with her lightening reflexes and speed, to which Northwich had no answer and Cheshire ran out winners by 13.

Cheshire wishes Rosie Harris a speedy recovery from her serious ankle injury, which she sustained, near the end of the game.

5th January 2008

Cheshire Under 18’s  42       South Cheshire Premier 26

Cheshire's Heather Snape put in a superlative performance in her first Elite league game of the season, shooting 20/23 in the game to power Cheshire U18’s to a 42-26 victory over title chasing South Cheshire Premier, and drive her side to the top of the league.

Cheshire U18’s came out firing on all cylinders playing controlled fast netball, with the centre court trio of Kinvig, Evans and Preece dominating their space, and McKenna and Woods were dazzling with some lightning quick interplay coupled with accurate shooting.  Cheshire led 10-3 at the end of the 1^st quarter.

The Coach swapped Snape for McKenna and Taylor for Kinvig at the start of the second quarter, and they fit neatly into the home side's game plan along with Katie Hamilton and Kate Campbell who were inspired in defence picking off a number of key interceptions.  Cheshire u18’s led 23-12 at half time,

In the 3^rd quarter Preece was outstanding, making numerous intercepts and linking well with Taylor and Kinvig who fed the shooters. This limited South Cheshire to score only 4 goals in this quarter but with the South Cheshire premier squad putting up a spirited challenge and their defence making life difficult for the Cheshire u18’s shooting combination of McKenna and Snape.

The 3^rd ended 29-16

However, once coach Rowley re- introduced Woods at the start of the fourth quarter, and with Snape in the other shooting role, the result was out of sight.  The pair were astounding with their slick movement, and almost telepathic in their positional understanding.  Cheshire ran out deserved winners 42-26.

13th Oct 2007

Cheshire Under 18’s  45       Chester  47 

Cheshire Under 18’s commenced their first ever match in the Cheshire Elite league against last season’s winners, Chester Seniors. Cheshire's youngsters gave their all but came up against an experienced and determined Chester side who used that vast experience to edge home 47-45 in a thriller of a finish.

In a pulsating match, Cheshire were by no means disgraced, pushing Chester all the way with some superb all court defensive work and clinical finishing, in particular from Kelly Woods and Bev Stokes which at one point allowed Cheshire to lead by 5 goals

However, Chester were simply too smart, pushing Cheshire into a number of key unforced errors at crucial points in the match, and eventually pipping them to win the match.

At the end of the first quarter, Cheshire led by a three with Kate Campbell making life intensely difficult for Chester’s ex England Shooter Fenlon who would be the vital difference between the teams as her accuracy never dropped below 90% for the whole match.

Kate Hamilton and Rosie Sheward continued to harry and hassle the Chester shooters at the start of the second period, Corrine Kinvig and Emma Taylor drove to the circle edge time after time, feeding Shooter Perks and by the end of the 2^nd period Cheshire led by 5.

The third quarter was an intensive, tough affair, with neither team prepared to give way. Chester scored two early goals, Cheshire countered, and so the passage of play continued. Woods was in unstoppable form, but the final ball in to her was found wanting on several more occasions. Cranfield made things difficult for Cheshire with her athleticism and anticipation, and despite the best efforts of the Cheshire defence Fenlon sank the shots, which counted. Third quarter: all square

Cheshire coaches Rowley and Brien went back to the starting 7 to try and bring back the all court driving game that had performed so well in the 1^st quarter but a combination of fitness and inexperience of trying to force the ball into the circle cost Cheshire dear and with Chester taking their chances they took the lead for the first time and in spite of the monumental efforts of Elder and Harrison. Chester held the lead to win 47-45 but Cheshire knew that the opportunity had been there for the taking.

10th Nov 2007

Knutsford   18      Cheshire Under 18’s   28

Cheshire played their 2^nd Elite League against Knutsford who had won their opening game and with ex county players and coaches PIKE and Whiston in their line up Cheshire knew they would have a tough game.

Cheshire coach Rowley shuffled his line up once more, starting with Stokes in partnership with Sarah Coleman up front, and Katie Hamilton partnered with Rosie Sheward in defence, to counter the threat posed by the tall shooter. Jenny Bazley started her first game for the County at WA. Coleman started confidently, opening the scoring with a long range shot but Knutsford responded like for like and the 1^st quarter ended 7-7.

Rachel Chadwick replaced Coleman for the second quarter, and her style of play started to cause problems for the Knutsford defence. Concentration wavered and, on several occasions, Cheshire made interceptions only to waste the opportunity created with errors of their own. Knutsford's defence upped the physical pressure on the Cheshire shooters and the standard of play started to waiver. Knutsford closed the gap  midway through the quarter, but Stokes and Chadwick weathered the storm, to leave the scoreboard 15-13 in Cheshire's favour at half time.

Kate Campbell replaced Rosie Sheward at the half time interval, and with the introduction of Emma Taylor to WA and the move of Hayley Preece to C, Cheshire's attacking formation was revived. Preece's clever changes of pace and vision on feeding soon paid dividends and Cheshire scored six goals without response at the start of the period to edge away from Knutsford. Kinvig, now at WD, had a storming game, using her reach and anticipation to great effect, and Cheshire opened up a comfortable margin, to lead 24-15 at three quarter time.

However, Knutsford's challenge was far from over, scoring three quick goals after the restart with ex coaches Pike and Whiston combining well in the circle However, Lauren Joseph made a number of key interceptions, and with Coleman now into her rhythm, the lead stretched. Final score 28-18 to Cheshire.