Essex Open A suffered their first defeat of the season losing 41-38 to Leyton at Redbridge on Saturday.
Essex Open A 38 Leyton A 41
Essex Open remain top of the Essex Met League despite losing 41-38 to Leyton. With Essex leading 30-19 mid-way through the third quarter it seemed inconceivable that they could suffer defeat, but Leyton staged a spirited fight back.
Conditions were difficult for netball as the wind and rain caused problems for all. Essex got in front early on as Rebecca Wilks, Sara Biss and Leanne Spencer created numerous opportunities for Siobahn Livingstone and Maddie Oshodi to score. At the end of the first quarter Essex led 10-7.
Essex started the second quarter well and extended their lead to 7 goals as they went 16-9 in front. However Leyton were proving a force to be reckoned with and dominated the rest of the quarter. At half time the game was very much in the balance as Essex were 20-17 ahead.
The first few minutes of the third quarter were tight as it seemed that a close finish was in prospect. Essex then produced an incredible spell of netball as they scored 8 goals without reply to go into a 30-19 lead. With the game firmly in their grasp Essex then proceeded to throw it all away. Careless passing and wasted chances allowed Leyton to score 9 goals without reply to bring the deficit back to 3 by the end of the third quarter.
Leyton continued where they left off in the final quarter as they scored 5 goals without reply to go in front for the first time. When Leyton built a 3 goal lead to go 35-32 in front it looked all over for Essex.. However Essex re-grouped and pulled it level at 35 all. The goals then followed the centre pass and the scores stood at 38 all with minutes remaining. Essex had a chance to go in front but failed to take advantage of it and allowed Leyton to go down the other end and score and add two more to seal a remarkable victory.
Stewart, Humphreys, Spencer, Biss, R Wilks, Livingstone, Oshodi
Essex Open B 35 Kelmscott 31
Essex emerged as deserved winners as they came out in front of a very competitive game against a spirited Kelmscott side. The start of the game was very much end to end with both teams matching each other goal for goal. Some excellent shooting from Siobahn Livingstone enabled Essex to move into a 10-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.Essex started the second quarter slowly and allowed Kelmscott back into the game. Halfway through the second quarter
Kelmscott had cut the lead to a solitary goal. Essex then stepped up a gear playing some good netball through the centre court with Stephanie Driver, Kate Wilks and Laura Carslisle creating chances for Livingstone and Rebecca Wilks to give Essex a healthy lead at half time, being 21-16 in front.
Once again Kelmscott fought back and reduced the arrears to 3 early in the third quarter. For a little while the game was fairly evenly balanced but at 24-20 Essex raised their game and scored 6 goals without reply to finish the third quarter 30-20 in front and effectively seal the game.
Once again Kelmscott fought back strongly and made life very difficult for Essex. Indeed they dominated the last quarter and when the final whistle went Essex had seen their lead cut to 4 , finishing 35-31 winners.
N Wilks, Odeogberin, Driver, L Carslisle, K Wilks, R Wilks, Livingstone,
Weekes
Essex Open C 47 Leyton C 7
Essex Open C were in excellent form as they completely overwhelmed Leyton C to record a mammoth 47-7 victory. Essex consolidated their position in 3rd place in the league.
Essex Open D 38 Chigwell Ladies 33
Essex Open D maintained their strong challenge for the Division 6 title with a narrow win over lowly Chiwell Ladies.
Essex Open E 19 Unity 25
Essex Open E lost out to Unity in the battle between the two sides at the foot of the division 8 table. Essex fought hard but once again found their opponents too strong.
Essex Open F 29 Marshalls Pink 19
Essex Open F continued with their push for the division 9 title with a good win over Marshalls Pink. Essex remain 2nd, 2 points behind Chigwell Ladies.
Essex Open G 20 OPA White 38
Essex Open G suffered an unexpected defeat against OPA White in division 11. Hopes were high for the Essex squad having won their last game but it was not to be as they were convingly defeated.
