Connexions

SUNDAY 29 NOV 2009 v PARK STREET

Team started out as:

GS: Clare, GA: Sacha, WA: Donna, C: Lauren, WD: Ali, GD: Rach, GK: Tasha

Q1 – W 10-5

With the bad weather we didn’t know if the game was going to go ahead as the courts were quite flooded, but we went ahead and played. What a start we had as well. Straight away turned over a few of their centre passes. Played our own game, didn’t run around crazy as the courts were very wet and dangerous, we looked after the ball and there was always more than one option for the next pass.

Q2 – W 12-2

GS: Clare, GA: Sacha, WA: Jane, C: Lauren, WD: Ali, GD: Rach, GK: Tasha

Great quarter, come out and pretty much done the same, looked after the ball, always made sure there was plenty of options. Brilliant shooting by Sacha and Clare.

Q3 – W 10-6

GS: Clare, GA: Sacha, WA: Jane, C: Donna, WD: Ali, GD: Tasha, GK: Rach

Same again, great quarter. If there was to a bad quarter – this was the one, purely because it was our lowest scoring quarter. We didn’t do anything different, kept passing the ball well.

Q 4 – Q 17-4

GS: Clare, GA: Sacha, WA: Donna, C: Lauren, WD: Ali, GD: Lauren, GK: Rach

Sacha was on fire in this last quarter, nailed every shot. Every pass was good, we looked after the ball well, just a really good game of basic play in crap weather!!

Final Score Blaze win 49-17

MOM: Sacha

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Tough, tough, tough and tough!!!

A mixture of all things … good opposition, with some strong key players … fast and strong! combined with, I’m hoping, our only ‘off’ game of the season!

We started off keen but the first quarter ended 8 - 2, the score line didn’t reflect the feel of the 1st quarter.

Their lead increased in the second quarter stretching us to 14 - 6, with some loose play, a slight ‘ruffled feathers’ feel in Blaze, some of us started to feel the lead. But continued great solid performances from Mum and Daughter, Lauren and Jane.

The third quarter saw Kay come on, which changed the dynamic of the game, with her strength matching her player, it had immediate effect! Third quarter score 22 - 11.

The speed of the game was high paced, with their dynamic mid court play, and on fire shooters, we were unable to tackle the lead they had taken. Kay remained on in the 4th quarter, again hustling her player and making an impact. Sacha was great throughout - at both ends of the court. The final score was 29 - 14. A score line that is slightly unfair to Blaze, but I think we’d all agree, we’ve played better.

My man of the match - is a close run thing, but I’m going for joint honours for Lauren, strong and steady and determined throughout, and Kay, only on for two quarters but she made real impact when she came on… grit and determination in her play!

On to the next game, come on Blaze girls! X

Match report by Ali Blencowe

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Match Report by Clare Puszyk

Sunday 11th October : Connexions Blaze v Pink Ladies

Squad:
Tash GD / WD
Jane GD / GK / WA
Lauren C / GK
Donna GA / C
Rachel GS / GA
Ali WA
Sacha GS / GD
Clare GA

Q1 - Following our victory against Cosmic, we were feeling confident and ready for a match that we knew was likely to be tough. With Lauren taking first centre we were up for a fight! It very quickly  became clear that there were two very strong players in our oponents team - the Centre and the Goal Defense. Overheads were not a good option, with the Goal Defense springing into action and intercepting most balls. Donna and Sacha worked well together in the circle working the ball around with some great goals from Sacha! We kept our heads up though throughout the first quarter, only down 3 goals with the score 4 - 7.

Q2. The team moved around both at attack and defense ends with Rachel taking on the Goal Defense in this quarter. Pink ladies had a strong quarter with their shooters on form - our defense was putting up a great fight with some amazing interceptions from Tash! With two very fast players on their team we struggled to match their pace but put up a great fight. Pink ladies had their best quarter of the game, scoring 10 goals to our 6 with the score 10 - 16.

Q3. Tactic's played a role in the quarter 3 with positions changed again at both ends to try and keep Pink Ladies on their toes! I came on as GA to try and take on the GD and Rach slipped back to shooter. Defense changed around with Sacha taking on the GD postion fantastically well really putting pressure on the shooters with Lauren. The third quarter saw the GD get physical and send me flying. We played our strongest quarter though, working the ball around and and making sure the passes got to the right person ! Score 18 - 25

Q4 Jane dropped down to take on the WA position working with Rach and I to get those goals in. Jane put some amazing balls into Rachel with me trying (!) to keep the GD out of Rach's way. Defense were awesome in the last quarter - with Pink Ladies only scoring 7 (which we matched) - totally down to Lauren, Tash & Sacha.

All in all a great game which I think we all enjoyed - they were a good team but we kept our spirits up throughout. Final score 24 - 32.

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Match Report by Natasha Brathwaite  

 GK    Tash GD    Rach WD   Jane C      Deb WA   Ali
GA    Donna GS    Sacha  

Q1 Us Blaze girlies were well fired up for this game, having been beaten by Cosmic in the Summer league.  We got off to a great start, defensively we were awsome (modest also) Jane was working great blocking around edge of the D, Rach and I were hasseling away against the shooters, loads of tips and kept their score low.  Centre court girls were working hard, some nice passing up court and lovely bals into the circle from Ali - so many chances but their tall GK saved them with quite a few tips.  Poor all Debs came a cropper in 1st quarter with a heavy fall (she was definately pushed) but she was a trooper and got on with the game!   Score 10-2  

Q2 No changes to our positions, great work continued and we were very determined great passing up court, nice and steady just a bit of trouble finishing off the final ball into the circle, GK was getting some good tips - but Sacha didn't let her get them easy she was working hard in the circle.  We got these girls well flustered, they started chopping and changing their team around.  GK change ends and moved to GS very tall, but Rach and I continued to pressure her in the circle and almost had her out of the game.   Score23-9  

Q3 We let them come back at us a bit in this quarter, a few loose passes, but we worked hard and some amazing mid court tips from Debs to stop Cosmic capitalising.  Jane continuing with excellent blocking around the D and stopping those balls coming through.  Good shooting from their GA, with loads of pressure from Rach.  Sacha and Donna continue brilliant form in the circle, some good movement from both girls.  We had some tired legs in this quarter and man it was hot, but everyone still gave 100%..   Score 29-17  

Q4 Despite allowing them to come back at us, we knew we had this game in the bag - we weren't going to let them have a repeat of their last performance.  Well done ladies, great game by all, we kept our heads and played our own game.  It was a really tough choice but my MOM was Sacha, she had a great game in the shooting circle and put up some amazing shots under pressure from a very tall GK, brilliant game! Sacha was helped by some great balls in from Ali and support from Donna.  

A second win for us Blaze girls and a great start to our season, plus we got our own back on Cosmic - YES!

  FInal score Blaze 33- Cosmic 22   Tash x

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Match Report: Written by Debbie Oleary

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