Mavericks Consolidate Third With Win

Monday 15th March 2010 - 10:25:18

The battle for third and fourth place in the Co-operative Netball Superleague looks set to be a corker.

Realistically there are three teams pushing for the two play-off spots and Hertfordshire Mavericks took a huge step toward guaranteeing it would be them with a decisive win over fellow rivals Leeds Carnegie.

Leeds have had a big week. Their university side managed to prevailed in the Kukri BUCS Championship final against Loughborough, but only after extra time and then only by one goal.

Hertfordshire Mavericks have been setting their eyes on the prize of third place in the Superleague, for now. The first half of the match was fairly tightly contested with Leeds slipping behind by three goals in the first 15 minutes but holding the visitors to 10-10 in the second.

The match was won from the bench as the Hertfordshire side brought on the lofty talents of Vicklyn Joseph, and the energy and reach of Naida Hutchinson.

Instantly Leeds were struggling to feed their shooting duo, who despite netted everything they were given. Seven goals then for Carnegie as Mavericks force-fed their attack with 19 of the 22 attempts slipping through the ring.

Very much in top gear by now Mavericks romped home in the final quarter to complete their operation to move back up to third. D

enika Campbell-Lee earned her first outing in the Superleague and came on court with the daunting task of taking on Anna Newell, by all accounts she did well.

Carnegie's sharp shooters can also congratulate themselves on a job well done with a team shooting average higher than their visitors of 87%. Impressive.

Carnegie were also the Superleague side most feeling the effect of Netball Europe, missing key players from every part of the court with Rachel Shaw, Lauren Potter, and Natalie Haythornthwaite in an under 19 England dress for the weekend in the run of games against Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Head Coach Marion Lofthouse was disappointed by the second half after a very competitive start to the game. She told us after the game, "Leeds held Mavericks for two quarters but the experience of the Mavericks squad became evident."

"Leeds lost the initiative in the third quarter and we were unable to penetrate the Mavericks defence."

But the coach was determined to take something away from the game. "Although it was not the result we wanted or needed, elements of the game were good but the lack of experience caused unforced errors which, should we wish to contest for a top four place will have to be remedied."

Acting head coach for Hertfordshire Mavericks Jo Webb was pleased the half-time break and substitutions paid off. "Leeds really pushed us in the first half," she said. "We found our rhythm and showed the kind of netball we are capable of building towards the end of the season."

By Lisa O’Sullivan