Essex Open 54, Roundwood 35.

This was an excellent win for Essex Open in defeating a very competitive Roundwood side. The basis of the victory was an excellent first quarter which Essex won by 16 goals to 5. Essex started the game well and throughout the first quarter played to their best. In the centre court Essex dominated with Rebecca Wilks, Jasmine Odegberin and Nicole Alves creating lots of possession for the Essex Open shooters. Essex took full advantage of their opportunities with Leah Hayzelden and Maddie O’Shodie in tremendous form.

The second quarter was a much tighter affair but Roundwood found it increasingly difficult to get the ball into the Essex circle where Emma Shaw and Johanne Linehan  were keeping the shooters at bay. Although it was a better quarter for Roundwood, Essex accelerated away at the end to win the quarter 15-9 and lead 31-14 at half time. The third quarter was much tighter, and Essex made a couple of changes introducing Nicola Wilks and Sophia Sefton into the line-up. Defensively Essex was very solid but although Roundwood enjoyed a much better quarter they could only manage to draw it 13 all. The pace of the game fell away in the last quarter with both sides struggling to score goals but Essex ran out 54-35 winners to give them a convincing victory. They play their last game of the first half of the season away to Eclipse next week and victory will put them in a good position to push for promotion after Christmas.

Shaw, Linehan, N Wilks, Alves, Odegberin, R Wilks, Sefton, Hayzelden, OShodi