Hard fought derby settled in decisive second quarter!
A one sided second quarter which saw Blackpool score nine times without response led to Ribble Valley losing their first game of the 2019/20 season 57-41.
The game was expected to be fast paced and physical after a pulsating final day game of the 2018/19 season went Blackpool's way by just five goals and this was how the majority of the game panned out. Sadly for the East Lancashire side, the more experienced Blackpool outfit gave their young opponents a lesson in how to put a game away in a chaotic first ten minutes of the second quarter.
The Ribble starting seven featured no less than four teenagers, with a further two coming on off the bench later in the game to highlight what is a very promising young side.
And that was shown in the first quarter as Ribble found themselves 7-3 up in the first quarter, despite both sides showing a bit of pre season rustiness and nerves with errors and missed opportunities.
The middle trio of Sophie Layfield, Jordan Balazs and Elisha Priestley showed both great pressure in defence and skill in turnovers to set the tone and send the Whalley based side into a five point cushion with Hannah Fletcher and Freya McDermott-Dean both finding their range as goal attack and shooter respectively.
Blackpool did then start to find their way in the game but Ribble led after the first quarter 12-10.
One change saw 15 year old Anja Haworth replace captain Layfield, the young Manchester Thunder pathway prospect coming on at WA.
Blackpool started the quarter quicker, slicker and more clinical than Ribble and two early turnovers quickly turned into nine goals on the bounce and a shocked Ribble side found themselves chasing the game with the second quarter finishing 32-17 to Blackpool.
Layfield was quick to motivate her side in between the second and third quarter and tactical changes by Aussie Coach Kahlia Rocco did their job. It was to the Ribble girls great credit that they stemmed the tide with Asbridge moved to GD, Fletcher and McDermott-Dean swapping bibs at GS and GA and the injured Haworth forced to come off having battled with great credit to overcome a muscle strain aggravated in the warm up.
Ribble started the third quarter much better with Fletcher scoring twice from difficult distances. Kate Asbridge who was excellent throughout in defensive partnership with Eleanor Jorgensen and then Ella Barton made life difficult for the home shooters, who themselves both had excellent games, but going into the final quarter Blackpool still held a 45-29 lead.
Three quarter time saw more changes, with the hard working Balazs now needing a breather and Haworth injured, coach Kahlia made a tactical swap with Leeds Rhinos graduate Priestley moving to centre. This was a first NW Prem outing for her in that position and she showed both courage and energy in her new role as Ribble fought to the end to draw the last quarter 12-12, Jemma Holden coming on to good effect in the WD defence bib.
Although ultimately losing the game 57-41, there were plenty of positives to take.
Blackpool will expect to compete near the top of the division and the fact that Ribble more than challenged them for three quarters of the game will give the young side plenty of confidence to take into their next game which is against Warrington on 28th September.
This will be the first home game of the season and a good crowd is expected at Oakhill College for what promises to be another stern test.
Report from Nathan Bailey
The game was expected to be fast paced and physical after a pulsating final day game of the 2018/19 season went Blackpool's way by just five goals and this was how the majority of the game panned out. Sadly for the East Lancashire side, the more experienced Blackpool outfit gave their young opponents a lesson in how to put a game away in a chaotic first ten minutes of the second quarter.
The Ribble starting seven featured no less than four teenagers, with a further two coming on off the bench later in the game to highlight what is a very promising young side.
And that was shown in the first quarter as Ribble found themselves 7-3 up in the first quarter, despite both sides showing a bit of pre season rustiness and nerves with errors and missed opportunities.
The middle trio of Sophie Layfield, Jordan Balazs and Elisha Priestley showed both great pressure in defence and skill in turnovers to set the tone and send the Whalley based side into a five point cushion with Hannah Fletcher and Freya McDermott-Dean both finding their range as goal attack and shooter respectively.
Blackpool did then start to find their way in the game but Ribble led after the first quarter 12-10.
One change saw 15 year old Anja Haworth replace captain Layfield, the young Manchester Thunder pathway prospect coming on at WA.
Blackpool started the quarter quicker, slicker and more clinical than Ribble and two early turnovers quickly turned into nine goals on the bounce and a shocked Ribble side found themselves chasing the game with the second quarter finishing 32-17 to Blackpool.
Layfield was quick to motivate her side in between the second and third quarter and tactical changes by Aussie Coach Kahlia Rocco did their job. It was to the Ribble girls great credit that they stemmed the tide with Asbridge moved to GD, Fletcher and McDermott-Dean swapping bibs at GS and GA and the injured Haworth forced to come off having battled with great credit to overcome a muscle strain aggravated in the warm up.
Ribble started the third quarter much better with Fletcher scoring twice from difficult distances. Kate Asbridge who was excellent throughout in defensive partnership with Eleanor Jorgensen and then Ella Barton made life difficult for the home shooters, who themselves both had excellent games, but going into the final quarter Blackpool still held a 45-29 lead.
Three quarter time saw more changes, with the hard working Balazs now needing a breather and Haworth injured, coach Kahlia made a tactical swap with Leeds Rhinos graduate Priestley moving to centre. This was a first NW Prem outing for her in that position and she showed both courage and energy in her new role as Ribble fought to the end to draw the last quarter 12-12, Jemma Holden coming on to good effect in the WD defence bib.
Although ultimately losing the game 57-41, there were plenty of positives to take.
Blackpool will expect to compete near the top of the division and the fact that Ribble more than challenged them for three quarters of the game will give the young side plenty of confidence to take into their next game which is against Warrington on 28th September.
This will be the first home game of the season and a good crowd is expected at Oakhill College for what promises to be another stern test.
Report from Nathan Bailey
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