Essex Open A 52 New Cambell Green 47

In  a brilliant game of netball, Essex Open A ran out deserved winners over New Campbell Green 52-47 in a game they led from start to finish. It started well with the centre-court trio of Johanne Linehan, Jasmin Ogegberin and Rebecca Wilks dominating the early possession. This gave opportunities for an in form Leah Hayzelden, well-supported by Rochelle Reynolds-Blanche, to score the goals to give Essex a healthy 9-2 lead midway through the first quarter. However, this was always going to be a tough game with Cambell very strong in the shooting circle and they soon reduced the arrears to two as they scored five goals without response. The rest of the quarter was very competitive but at the end of it, Essex scored three goals without reply to take a 16-11 lead into the second quarter. The second quarter was a very tight affair with Cambell coming back into the game strongly. Midway through, Essex held a 24-17 lead, but Cambell dominated the last part of the quarter scoring eight goals with Essex managing a mere three in reply. So, at half-time, the points were up for grabs as Essex led 27-25. Cambell started the third quarter well and reduced the deficit to a single goal. At this stage, Essex looked as if they might throw away all their good work. However, Essex then came back strongly with Hayzelden and Reynolds-Blanche scoring four goals without reply to re-establish Essex’s lead. Although the rest of the quarter was tightly contested, the Essex defensive circle of Rene Hurley and Emma Shaw performed wonders to keep the new Cambell shooters at bay. At the end of the quarter, Essex led 40-34 and held the initiative going into the last part of the game. In the first part of the last quarter, both teams matched each other goal for goal. Unfortunately, at this time, Essex started to give possession away too easily and Campbell reduced the arrears to four, trailing 43-47. Fortunately for Essex, time was running out and they could slow the game down where necessary and were still taking advantage of scoring from their centre-pass. At the end of the game, Essex secured the point which keeps them top of the table, winning narrowly 52-47.

Hurley, Shaw, Alves, Linehan, Odegberin, R Wilks, Hayzelden, Reynolds-Blanche,Sebyala