Senior League Match Reports - 18 September 2022

Premier League

Simcocks Blue Eagles, 14 v Simcocks Red Eagles, 53

POTM - Rachel Johnstone

The first game of the 22/23 season saw both Simcocks teams take to court with player changes on either side.

From the starting whistle both teams were taking ball to goal however, with some great defence from Pizzey and Swales this saw the Reds take some early turnovers and finish the first quarter in the lead. Second quarter saw some changes for blues, with Corkish joining Irving in the shooting circle. Reds maintained their scoring streak and ended the first half 24-5.

As Reds continued to build on their lead, pressure from the blues mid-court and defence ensured they had to work for every ball. Belcher-Smith and Mason (Helen) continued to work hard through the mid court to bring the ball, the blues shooting third, making Mason (Claire) and Leece work hard. A final quarter circle change for blues saw Kemp join Irving, making the red defence work hard to prevent goals. Mason (Claire) and Johnstone continued to connect well in the midcourt for reds, delivering safe balls into Swales and Harris to convert, with Keggin, Danes and Charmer applying pressure, it meant this was not an easy task. The game finished with Simcocks Reds winning 53-14 with POTM going to Rachel Johnstone.

Championship Division

Manx Gems Sapphires, 21 v Route One Turbos, 29

POTM - Hannah Halsall

Island Tyres and Autocare Manx Gems Sapphires played Route One Turbos for both teams’ first match of the new season. To begin with, both teams were neck and neck,shooters Katie Keenan (GS, Gems) and Ella Webster (GS,Turbos) making no errors. Route One began to take the lead, however a strong defence from Gems meant they fought back. Jodie Vaughan (GK, Gems), Hannah Halsall(GD, Gems) and Emma Leith (WD) fed the ball up the court which meant the first quarter ended 7-7.

The second quarter was also close, as Ashleigh Baines (C, Gems) and Cassidy Pizzey (C, Route One) battled to keep the ball with their respective teams. This quarter ended 14-14. Going into the third quarter, Phoebe Jones took up GA and despite being out of position, put up a good fight to score goals. Meanwhile, Abigail Campbell stepped up as WD for Gems, battling against Alice Willoughby (WA, Turbos).However, a strong defence for Turbos included the likes of Lisa McMullin (GK,Turbos)who proved valuable,with this quarter ending 22-17 to Turbos.

Both teams were in it, to win the last quarter, Alisha Fitzgerald (GA, Gems) kept up her errorless shooting, however the game ended 29-21 toTurbos. Hannah Halsall’s (Gems) regular interceptions and rebounds were rewarded with POTM.

Division 1

Suntera Global Ballasalla Earthquakes, 7 v Manx Gems Emeralds, 33

POTM - Diane Cregeen

Manx Gems Emeralds dominated play against a new Suntera Global Ballasalla Earthquakes team from the start with strong passing into the circle to the shooters despite close marking in defence from GD Charlotte Brooks and GK Gemma White. This brought the score at the end of the first quarter to 7 goals to 0.

Suntera Global Ballasalla Earthquakes started strong again in the centre court with Eliza Raynor in WA passing to Rebecca Hands at GA to score but they were unable to hold off defence from GD Di Creegeen and GK Sabrina Crowe and their effective team play into GA Alex Wilson Spratt and GS Trudi Halsall. The score at half time saw Manx Gems Emeralds leading by 19 goals to 1.

Suntera Global Ballasalla Earthquakes made some changes in the second half bringing Charlotte Brooks to WD and Alicia Kewley to GD and this quarter saw the teams more evenly matched with great connections in the attacking third to Lily Elson at GS to bring the score to 25 goals to 4

Suntera Global Ballasalla Earthquakes continued to work hard together but were no match this morning for Manx Gems Emeralds and the final whistle saw the score 33 goal to 7 with Di Cregeen gaining a well deserved Player of the Match.

Division 2

Castletown Vikings, 28 v Ramsey Scarlets, 10

POTM - Sophie Bowers

Ramsey Scarlets had the first Centre of the match and straight away Castletown’s Michelle Blythe’s(GD) got the turnover, which set the tone for the match, as Castletown took the first three goals. The first quarter ended 6-3 to Castletown.

The second quarter saw a change in Castletown’s shooting circle as the rotation throughout the match of Ruby Watterson, Bree Collister and Amy Potts proved to be a great success for the Viking Teams and as hard as Ramseys defence worked, especially from Winnie Davies in WD, the score was 10-4 going into the second half.

Ramsey made a change in their shooting circle which saw Nicole Corlett (GA) put up the first two goals of the third quarter, however, Castletowns flow through mid court lead by their Captain Ciara Whelan, along with the efforts of Isabelle Cutts (WD) and Sophie Bowers( WA) saw Castletowns lead extend to 19-7.

The final quarter saw Vikings continue with the great teamwork that they had shown all through the match and it saw the game end 28-10 with POTM going to Castletowns Sophie Bowers, who's great play and feeding into the shooting circle, saw her efforts rewarded.

FULL RESULTS

Premier League

Championship Division

Division 1

Division 2

Pictured: Castletown Vikings Team, who won their first match for the season 28-10. POTM went to Castletown Vikings' Sophie Bowers