Essex Open started 2020 with a 56-40 defeat at Clan.
Essex Open 40 The Clan 56

Despite another much improved performance Essex Open started the year with yet another defeat in Premiership Division 3. . Once again the scale of the defeat could be put down to a very poor start to the game. With five minutes gone Essex found themselves 9-2 in arrears. For the rest of the quarter Essex more than matched their opponents. Nicole Alves, Rebecca Wilks and Rosie Brabrook got lots of possession which shooters Sophia Sefton and Saffron Hancock turned into goals.

With Michelle Stewart and La Braya Buffong defending well Essex matched their opponents goal for goal. At the end of the first quarter The Clan held a 17-11 lead.

Essex made a number of changes at the end of the first quarter and unfortunately it took the team a little while to adjust. Seven quick goals from The Clan gave them an almost insurmountable lead. However once again Essex fought back well with Lola Stevens enjoying court time on her return from injury.

Louise Acons and Jasmine Eastabrook were also on court and once again towards the end of the quarter Essex more the matched their opponents. At half-time Essex trailed 33-23.

Essex needed to start the second half well to have any chance of salvaging victory from this game. However as with the other quarters Essex started slowly and allowed the Clan to extend their lead. However Essex refused to accept defeat and continued to fight for every ball. unfortunately due to the poor start The Clan were able to extend their lead to 47-31 at the end of the third quarter.

The last quarter was a scrappy affair in which Essex held the upper hand. For the first time in the game Essex started well scoring 3 goals without response. At the end of the game Essex was soundly beaten but this was a much better performance from a young and improving line up.

Stewart, Buffong, Alves, R. Wilks, Brabrook, Hancock, Sefton, Stevens, Eastabrook, Acons