Essex Open were relegated from division 1 of the regional league after losing 59-50 to New Cambell who were crowned champions.
Essex Open 50 New Cambell 59
Following their defeat to New Cambell, Essex Open find themselves in division 2 next year. The game also saw New Cambell crowned as champions.
In many ways the game summed up the season for Essex. They only have themselves to blame for their relegation. In many games Essex have found themselves in front only to see the game slip from their grasp.
Essex started off the game playing fast paced netball and enjoying lots of possession. Johanne Linehan, Rebecca Wilks and Nicole Alves dominated the centre court and Leah Hayzelden and Maddie Oshodi were both accurate with their shooting. Such was the Essex dominance that they found themselves 9-2 up midway through the first half. The second part of the quarter was fairly even and at the end of it Essex held a deserved 17-12 lead.
However once again Essex displayed their inability to hold on to a lead. In the first part of the second quarter Essex were unrecognisable from their performance in the first. Sloppy passing, careless errors allowed New Cambell to dominate. Jasmin Odeogberin and Emma Thorogood were finding it difficult to defend as Essex were frequently conceding possession.
The second quarter saw Essex lose a 5 goal lead as New Cambell went into the half time interval with a 31-27 lead.
Despite starting the quarter slowly Essex managed to claw their way back into the game and reduce the deficit to 2 as they trailed 35-33. However as soon as Essex got back into the match they started making careless mistakes again. As a result with a quarter to go Essex trailed 46-39. Once again in the last quarter Essex played some good netball and reduced the arrear to 5.However the end of the game saw Essex fall away with Jasmin Odeogberin receiving a 2 minute suspension , Essex conceded 5 goals without response.
Although relegated there have been times in each game where Essex have dominated but they have been very inconsistent and will need to work hard to get back up at the first time of asking.

Odeogberrin, Thorogood, Linehan, Mead, Alves, R Wilks, Hayzelden, Oshodi, sefton and N Wilks