Great Victory for Netball Ladies

(19 February 2009)

The University Netball squad celebrated after a great victory allowed them to maintain their lead at the top of the league. Playing in the Northern conference, the Durham women performed well and produced an enormous victory over the visiting Leeds side.

Leeds – who currently lie second in the league – believed they could remove Durham’s three point league advantage. However, the Palatinate ladies, boosted by their impressive form and great success of previous weeks, destroyed the Leeds ambition and proved they were the better team. Playing at Coxhoe leisure centre, the Durham ladies soon demonstrated their strength as the match began. Throughout the first quarter Durham utilised every centre pass and started to establish a small advantage over the Leeds side. With a 15 – 5 score achieved at the end of the first quarter, the home side believed they could win the match. Returning to the pitch with an amended team, the Leeds squad tried to toughen their defence in an attempt to inhibit the goal scoring rate of the Durham team. Performing well outside the circle, Goal Attack Tetlow made many vital interceptions which created goal attempts and increased the Durham goal Tally. With an eighteen point advantage at the half time mark, Durham looked set to win the match. As the second half commenced, Jasmine Coyne dominated the mid court play and tested the capabilities of the Leeds Centre player. Once again goals continued to arrive and the Palatinate ladies scored 22 more goals before the end of the quarter. The Durham ladies appeared more than satisfied with their attacking play and decided to prove their defensive strength during the last phase of the match. Leeds searched in desperation for additional goals but were prohibited by the resilient Durham defence. Refusing to allow the ball in to the circle, the Durham ladies conceded just one further goal and scored many more. As the final whistle blew, Durham had manufactured a 48 point lead and the players were delighted with their performance. The final score Durham 69 – Leeds 21.