Oldham Netball Clubs premier division side needed just one point from their final game to clinch the title for a fourth straight year.

Essex based side New Cambell made the trip up north and started the stronger of the two sides, with some early feeds being lofted in to their tall shooter. The Oldham defence were working had to stop the flow of the visitors but couldn't quite do enough to stop that final ball. Some good shooting kept the home side in touch. 11-12 at the break.

Coach Hallas replaced captain Kerry Almond for the second bringing on Abby Tyrell at GK. Unfortunately for Oldham the away side dominated the second quarter with the balls going in to the Cambell GS all too easily. So sloppy play from Oldham's attack allowed the away side to take too many intercepts and really out the pressure on the defending champions. Beth Cobden was working hard at WD to stop the feeds but could only do so much to keep the home side in touch. Half time score was 19-30 to New Cambell.

Oldham Netball Club’s Premier League side travelled to Hartlepool on Sunday in the penultimate game of the season.

The reigning champions needed six points from the 10 available to them over the two games to clinch the title for a fourth consecutive year. Coach Debbie Hallas took a depleted but strong squad up to the North East.

The girls in red and blue started strongly taking a 4-0 lead before allowing Oaksway back into the game and the quarter ran goal for goal. With many of the players on court facing each other for the 2nd time in 3 days, there was a familiar feel and battle around the game. Oldham kept pressing and eventually took a 12-8 lead at quarter time.

The second quarter was better for the away side, with Jodie Gibson, on at GD for Emma Dovey, taking 2 intercepts in row to stretch the lead. The combination with GK Kerry Almond paid off for Oldham and the lead began to blow out. A time out for Oaksway allowed them to make a shooting change, a move mirrored by Hallas, as she brought Alice Travis out to GA and brought on 17year old Amy Clinton at GS. The extra height in the circle slowed the Oaksway defence down and Oldham lead 29-14 at the half.

Dovey re-entered the court for the third in the unfamiliar centre position, but the change didn’t halt the away team. Oldham took their foot off the peddle slightly in the quarter but still led 45-26 at the break.

The final quarter saw wholesale changes for Oldham, Georgie Webster moved to C, Beth Cobden to WD, Travis to WA and Kathryn Turner moved back to GA. The changes stalled Oldham’s flow slightly but intercepts and tips were still coming across the court with even Clinton getting in on the act.

Final score was 55-36 to Oldham, leaving the champions needing 1 point from their final league game to retain the trophy.

Hallas said: “The girls played well in the first half and gave themselves a buffer so I was able to rest some tired legs and rotate the squad. The important part was to get five points in the bag going into the last game with that momentum and not putting ourselves under pressure.”

Team GS A Travis GA K Turner WA M McAndrew C B Cobden WD G Webster GD E Dovey GK K Almond Bench: A Clinton J Gibson

Starting 7,
GS Hannah Fletcher 
GA Mia Robinson 
WA Olivia Gilbertson 
C Alicia Scholes
WD Olivia Woodcock 
GD Eleyna Flitcroft 
GK Vanessa Luamba
Subs: Rosette Luamba, Laura Mallider, Amira Mirza, Georgina Egan 

This was our last game of the group and we were looking at getting a clean win at Didsbury and finishing top of our table. However we started slow and a few sloppy balls and missed shots saw us lose a few centres. We struggled to maintain a flow in the first quarter, with the score finishing a disappointing 9-8, Oldham leading.

A change was made in the second quarter and Laura Mallider replaced Eleyna Flitcroft at GD. Oldham started off better with some great turnovers in defence and a fast pace of movement from the attack seen us pull away from the home side in this quarter. It was a bit scrappy in places with Oldham still not managing to rectify some of their mistakes from the first quarter. The second quarter finished 22-13.

At half time Pam Hazleton decided that it was time to make a few more changes.
Georgina Egan went on at GS and Hannah Fletcher moved to GA. Amira Mirza came on at WD. The second half started very well for Oldham with Vanessa and Laura staying tight in the circle making it very difficult for Didsbury to even get a shot up. The attack stepped up their game and the change in the circle worked excellent with Georgina Egan really stepping up to the mark. In the third quarter Didsbury were left standing and the goals just rained down on them. The quarter finished on 37-19 .

In the last quarter just one change was made with Eleyna replacing Vanessa at GK. Didsbury began to tire and the pace of Oldham just became too much for them. The goals kept coming and there was just no way of a comeback for the home side. Georgina Egan finished on 100% shooting stats and deservingly got Player of the Match. The score ended 53-26 to Oldham.
This leaves Oldham finishing top of their group and facing Chester next sunday in the Regional semi final. A win will secure them a place in the Nationals in May.

Shooting Stats
Hannah 26/30 87%
Mia 7/8 87%
Georgina 20/20 100% !!! 

With the end of the season closing in Oldham Netball Club are taking every game as it comes to ensure the regain the Premier League One title for the fourth consecutive year. The visitors to Oldham were Surrey based The Downs who proved to be a challenging opponent at the start of the year.

Oldham were boosted by the return of some senior players whose availability had been restricted due to the Netball Superleague in previous games. Oldham started with pace and Kathryn Turner commanded the attacking circle supported with the speed of Cobden and McAndrew. The Downs had a tall target in their circle but struggled to capitalise on this due to good pressure from the Oldham defence. At the end of the first quarter Oldham were dominating early and led 17-7.

Going into the second quarter coach Debbie Hallas looked to her bench for a reshuffle and introduced Krista Enziano to goal shooter while Alice Travis moved out to goal attack. The Downs upped their game in the second quarter and started to disrupt the Oldham attack. However, some patience and quick ball movement allowed Oldham to win the second quarter and extend their lead at half time 29-16.

With plenty of options on the bench Jodie Gibson and Rachel Henry took to the court with Turner returned to goal attack. Mistakes from both sides made for a slow start to the second half as both initially struggled to convert their chances. The home side found their rhythm towards the end of the quarter with some speed and accuracy throughout the whole court and at the end of the third quarter Oldham led 41-25.

In the final quarter Oldham once again reshuffled their pack in an effort for consistency and to regain some impact from the game which had become flat. Beth Cobden came into wing attack, Emma Dovey came back to wing defence with Gibson hungry for turnovers in the goal keeper position.

Oldham easily saw out the game by 20 goals 57-47 and now need just six points to secure the Premier League Division One title to make it the fourth season in a row.  

Coach Debbie Hallas: “It was a game that I was able to give players plenty of court time, The Downs were not the same team that had such impact last season, so we took our foot off the pedal a little with the game gone. Most importantly it’s five points on the board and we look forward to our trip to fellow northerners Oaksway next Sunday.”

Starting 7: GK Kerry Almond GD Emma Dovey WD Georgie Webster C Beth Cobden WA Maria McAndrew GA Kathryn Turner GS Alice Travis SUBS: Rachel Henry Jodie Gibson Krista Enziano