Valliant performance in vain for Ribble
Ribble Valley lost the second game of the season against Warrington, despite a courageous second half comeback.
This was Ribble’s first home game of the season and a hasty change of venue meant that the match was to be played at the same venue used in the 2018/19 season, rather than Oakhill college due to a small leak from the bad weather.
Ribble were up against Warrington who lost their first game of the season by just the one goal so a tough test was to come.
15-year-old Anja Haworth was ruled out due to injury and Ella Barton was unavailable so Ribble included débutante Issy Taylor and 16yr old Maya Nelson joining Beth Tomlinson on an inexperienced looking bench.
Kate Asbridge overcame an ankle knock picked up in the warmup and once again showed her maturity, experience and skill playing in her usual position of GK with her defensive partners Eleanor Jorgensen and later Jemma Holden providing top support.
Both teams started brightly in the first quarter and straight away there was a sense this was going to be a feisty game.
Hannah Fletcher found herself in a physical battle with the Warrington GD and GK but it was hers and Freya McDermott-Dean’s slick circle interchange that kept Ribble on the tail of their counterparts.
After the first quarter Warrington had a slender lead of 12-10.
The second quarter saw Warrington come firing out of the blocks and score four quick goals on the bounce after successful turnovers.
Despite great defensive efforts from Ribble, Warrington’s shooting was faultless and that took them into a commanding 26-16 lead at half time.
At the break, Fletcher had to be substituted after injuring her back and was replaced by youngster Nelson who came on at the unfamiliar position of GA, but the teenager took her chance with both hands and played her part in a quarter which saw Ribble score 14 times!
Both Nelson and McDermott-Dean, who had a great game at GS, showed composure under pressure as the tough visiting defence forced a physical battle for every feed into the circle.
The reliable middle trio of Jordan Balazs, Elisha Preistley and captain Sophie Layfield, who was voted player of the match by Warrington, found a new gear as they reasserted themselves on the Warrington centre court and showed patience and skill when in possession of the ball.
There was a moment of worry as a nasty collision saw McDermott-Dean come down head first after a high ball ended with her and the visiting goal defence colliding. Thankfully though, she bravely picked herself up and continued to play, sinking the resulting penalty from distance.
Going into the final quarter Ribble had cut the lead to 38-30.
The final quarter saw neither side take a clear ascendancy and the quarter became somewhat niggly as the East Lancashire outfit pushed to close the gap and Warrington battled hard to maintain their cushion. There was a Warrington player cautioned for delaying play, a series of toss ups as the umpires looked to decipher the rolling battle between Nelson, McDermott-Dean and the visiting defence and a few stern words for the Ribble bench as passions bubbled up.
Despite outscoring Warrington again in the final quarter it wasn’t quite enough and Ribble finished on the losing side, 45-38 the final score.
In true netball style the on court contest was instantly forgotten in a warm and friendly post match refreshment break and both sides will look forward to the return fixture in the new year.
Ribble travel to Chester this weekend, hoping for a first win.
Ribble Valley lost the second game of the season against Warrington, despite a courageous second half comeback.
This was Ribble’s first home game of the season and a hasty change of venue meant that the match was to be played at the same venue used in the 2018/19 season, rather than Oakhill college due to a small leak from the bad weather.
Ribble were up against Warrington who lost their first game of the season by just the one goal so a tough test was to come.
15-year-old Anja Haworth was ruled out due to injury and Ella Barton was unavailable so Ribble included débutante Issy Taylor and 16yr old Maya Nelson joining Beth Tomlinson on an inexperienced looking bench.
Kate Asbridge overcame an ankle knock picked up in the warmup and once again showed her maturity, experience and skill playing in her usual position of GK with her defensive partners Eleanor Jorgensen and later Jemma Holden providing top support.
Both teams started brightly in the first quarter and straight away there was a sense this was going to be a feisty game.
Hannah Fletcher found herself in a physical battle with the Warrington GD and GK but it was hers and Freya McDermott-Dean’s slick circle interchange that kept Ribble on the tail of their counterparts.
After the first quarter Warrington had a slender lead of 12-10.
The second quarter saw Warrington come firing out of the blocks and score four quick goals on the bounce after successful turnovers.
Despite great defensive efforts from Ribble, Warrington’s shooting was faultless and that took them into a commanding 26-16 lead at half time.
At the break, Fletcher had to be substituted after injuring her back and was replaced by youngster Nelson who came on at the unfamiliar position of GA, but the teenager took her chance with both hands and played her part in a quarter which saw Ribble score 14 times!
Both Nelson and McDermott-Dean, who had a great game at GS, showed composure under pressure as the tough visiting defence forced a physical battle for every feed into the circle.
The reliable middle trio of Jordan Balazs, Elisha Preistley and captain Sophie Layfield, who was voted player of the match by Warrington, found a new gear as they reasserted themselves on the Warrington centre court and showed patience and skill when in possession of the ball.
There was a moment of worry as a nasty collision saw McDermott-Dean come down head first after a high ball ended with her and the visiting goal defence colliding. Thankfully though, she bravely picked herself up and continued to play, sinking the resulting penalty from distance.
Going into the final quarter Ribble had cut the lead to 38-30.
The final quarter saw neither side take a clear ascendancy and the quarter became somewhat niggly as the East Lancashire outfit pushed to close the gap and Warrington battled hard to maintain their cushion. There was a Warrington player cautioned for delaying play, a series of toss ups as the umpires looked to decipher the rolling battle between Nelson, McDermott-Dean and the visiting defence and a few stern words for the Ribble bench as passions bubbled up.
Despite outscoring Warrington again in the final quarter it wasn’t quite enough and Ribble finished on the losing side, 45-38 the final score.
In true netball style the on court contest was instantly forgotten in a warm and friendly post match refreshment break and both sides will look forward to the return fixture in the new year.
Ribble travel to Chester this weekend, hoping for a first win.
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