On Sunday, Oldham Netball Club hosted newly promoted Turnford. The home side were looking for their fifth straight win to consolidate their position at the top of the National Premier League.
Despite a depleted squad the red and blue started strongly, taking a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter. A lapse in concentration allowed Turnford to get back into the game, before Oldham began to pull away again. Some strong defensive play by Georgie Webster and good shooting from Krista Enziano and Kathryn Turner saw the home team end the quarter 18-9 goals up.
There were no changes for the home side heading into the second and Oldham again started brightly, taking the first few goals of the quarter, despite some heavy defensive pressure from the away side. Laura Malcolm was linking play between Oldham's defence and attack with some neat play in the centre court, whilst putting the Turnford attack under pressure, forcing turnovers for the defence to pick up. Oldham took a commanding 31-19 lead into the second half.
Despite a depleted squad the red and blue started strongly, taking a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter. A lapse in concentration allowed Turnford to get back into the game, before Oldham began to pull away again. Some strong defensive play by Georgie Webster and good shooting from Krista Enziano and Kathryn Turner saw the home team end the quarter 18-9 goals up.
There were no changes for the home side heading into the second and Oldham again started brightly, taking the first few goals of the quarter, despite some heavy defensive pressure from the away side. Laura Malcolm was linking play between Oldham's defence and attack with some neat play in the centre court, whilst putting the Turnford attack under pressure, forcing turnovers for the defence to pick up. Oldham took a commanding 31-19 lead into the second half.
A few changes for Oldham halted the flow slightly, but Oldham once again started strongly with the first four goals of the quarter. Amy Neild, at goal attack, took a while to get into the game, but backed up by Enziano and Maria McAndrew at wing attack, the youngster started to create space in the circle. At the other end Gabby Marshall was causing havoc in the Turnford attack, getting a hand to ball for the defence to pick up.
Heading to the last quarter 42-26 up Coach Debbie Hallas made more changes, bringing Rachel Henry and Turner back on with Henry and Malcolm dropping back a position. Turnford started the quarter brighter than Oldham and took the first few goals. A time-out called by Henry for a groin injury allowed the home team to refocus and get back into the game. The game restarted and Captain Kerry Almond came out on a flying intercept to set Oldham up on the attack. A flurry of goals followed and Oldham eased to a 52-32 win.
Hallas commented: “Firstly it was great to play against Turnford, a club with a very similar set up and ethos to ourselves, I am sure we will see them around for some time. Secondly, our performance today wasn’t good enough, we started on fire but soon faded into inconsistency. There were some good performances and there were some mediocre. We seemed to become complacent and we definitely didn’t play percentage netball. Our centre pass to goal in the second half was awful and with big tests against Leeds, The Downs and New Cambell coming up we need to up our game. My player of the match has to be captain Kerry Almond.”
Starting 7: GS K Enziano GA K Turner WA M McAndrew C Laura Malcolm WD Gabby Marshall GD G Webster GK K Almond Bench: Maria McAndrew, Amy Neild
Heading to the last quarter 42-26 up Coach Debbie Hallas made more changes, bringing Rachel Henry and Turner back on with Henry and Malcolm dropping back a position. Turnford started the quarter brighter than Oldham and took the first few goals. A time-out called by Henry for a groin injury allowed the home team to refocus and get back into the game. The game restarted and Captain Kerry Almond came out on a flying intercept to set Oldham up on the attack. A flurry of goals followed and Oldham eased to a 52-32 win.
Hallas commented: “Firstly it was great to play against Turnford, a club with a very similar set up and ethos to ourselves, I am sure we will see them around for some time. Secondly, our performance today wasn’t good enough, we started on fire but soon faded into inconsistency. There were some good performances and there were some mediocre. We seemed to become complacent and we definitely didn’t play percentage netball. Our centre pass to goal in the second half was awful and with big tests against Leeds, The Downs and New Cambell coming up we need to up our game. My player of the match has to be captain Kerry Almond.”
Starting 7: GS K Enziano GA K Turner WA M McAndrew C Laura Malcolm WD Gabby Marshall GD G Webster GK K Almond Bench: Maria McAndrew, Amy Neild