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Hurricanes Lose To Regional League Leaders! |
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Storm Hurricanes narrowly lost a thrilling game in the Netball South West U16 Regional League as the competition reached week 3.
The league leaders Exeter were in town and after losing to them 35-25 at the end of last season the team knew this one was going to be incredibly tough. Both teams had won their opening two games and Exeter led the table with a superior goal average. Storm started with the same line up that began the Chilcompton game and, with the biggest and noisiest crowd so far on the bleachers at Carn Brea, pushed forward to take the first quarter 9-7. The scoring went goal for goal as neither side managed to make the decisive break. Exeter's National Talent League Goal Defence, Yasmin Hodge-England, went over on her ankle midway through the second quarter and left the game but Storm lost concentration and conceded the next three goals following the restart. Exeter managed to pull back one of the goals they were down by at the end of the first quarter as Storm led 22-21 at half time. The visitors then made the third quarter count and it was this quarter that effectively won them the match when they took it 11-5 to crucially lead 32-27 going into the last.
The Storm players fought valiantly but part way through the final quarter Wing Defence Holly Filkins was forced off with what turned out to be an achilles injury to be replaced by Stacey Bradley. Exeter won the quarter 11-9 making the most of being able to take three centre passes in a row at one point (!) to take the game 43-36. Hurricanes Captain Beth Thomas praised the effort the team put it; "It was a really, really tight game. The girls tried so hard, we couldn't have asked any more from them. "The score doesn't at all reflect how we played. It was such a good game and the girls gave everything they had." Shooter Laura Butler had a tough afternoon under the posts trying to break down a physical Exeter defence; "Their defence is very, very good and it showed today, we just couldn't get past them." The Storm players didn't give up though and Butler says it's down to their mental attitude; "We've been taught and trained to fight till the finish and that's what we did, that's what we could only do." The defeat means Storm slip to third in the table with the top two progressing to the Regional Finals in April. Storm's next U16 Regional League game is an away trip to Bridgwater on Sunday, 8th January, 2012. The match takes place at Taunton Vale Sports Centre at 12:30pm and the club is running a coach to the game. If you are interested in coming on the coach please drop us a line and join our band of supporters! |
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Match Photos:
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After match interviews: |
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