Cardiff University Women’s 4th 40-22 University of South Wales 1st

by Jordan A Jones

BUCS Netball 2017-2018 – Western 3B

Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Venue: Cardiff University Sports Training Village

CARDIFF University 4th did a league double over the University of South Wales 1st as they recorded a 40-22 win over their South Wales rivals.

Gail Calford’s side had the chance to leapfrog Cardiff to move into third with a win after winning their last two games, including a big scalp at the league leaders the University of Bristol.

A manic second quarter, where the defence conceded eleven goals and scored only three times, created a big enough gap for Cardiff Uni to go on to victory.

Their remaining fixture is against bottom side Cardiff University Womens 5th next month, in what is a dead rubber match, given that their place in the Western 3B Division is safe.

In the early stages of the game, USW took the lead, as they narrowly edged it. Emma and Georgia Brookes found themselves on the score sheet.

But Cardiff University had other thoughts and after initially trailing for most of the first quarter, goal shooter Hannah Evans bagged a brace before the end of the first quarter.

The first quarter was an even period for the two sides and both sides looked in it, but in the second quarter, it was Cardiff University who turned on the style to create a massive gap between themselves and USW.

Straight from the off, Chloe Hodgetts orchestrated a fine passing movement and found Hannah Evans in space for an early goal, to take the lead for the first time in the game.

The floodgates began to open as the home side went on a goal-scoring frenzy. Evans was allowed a free shot which she calmly put away before Faye Ashton-Rigby found herself on the score sheet too. Evans was in fine-form and created a 13-6 lead with only a few minutes gone in the second quarter.

USW’s Emma Roberts replied twice to reduce the deficit, but Cardiff Uni were showing their clinical edge as Hannah Evans scored a further four times.

As the umpire blew for half-time, USW trailed by eight goals and were wondering how such a lead had come about, given their strong defensive performance in the first quarter.

Whatever was said at half-time seemed to have worked as they resumed to action. Emma Roberts scored three times, whilst Georgia Brookes was in space to grab another goal for herself to separate the sides by just three goals.

Cardiff University was relentless in their attack, USW had their brief spell in the second quarter, but Hannah Evans was scoring score with every shot she had. USW was making mistakes and allowing Cardiff University the chance to score, with the umpire giving several the decisions to the home side.

Already, the game had eclipsed the last meeting between the two where it was a narrow 22-17 victory over Cardiff University. Instead, Cardiff Uni held a 28-18 lead over USW at the end of the first quarter, scoring ten.

USW made a tactical change to try and combat Cardiff University in the final quarter, Ellie Nota and Agie Hoare swapped positions in a move to try and keep the score down. USW were sitting too deep, which made attacking for them harder, as Cardiff University played with a free-flowing style which was paying off, whilst USW were playing with a conservative approach.

Cardiff University, however, wasn’t letting up, Evans was on the scoresheet once again.

Terri Pearce was having a fine game, as she formed a good partnership with Hodgetts, where a range of low and high passes, found the Goal Attack in space, for a number of chances which she converted.

Towards the end of the quarter, USW made their final change as Emma Roberts made way for Emma Morgan. The newly introduced Goal Shooter came on and grabbed herself a singular goal but it was not enough, as the damage had already been done.

A loss with an eighteen-goal margin now puts USW on a minus goal difference, with it being unlikely that they will be able to take over 4th placed Cardiff Metropolitan University thirds.

USW: GK: Sophie Powell, GD: Megan Baker-Rees, WD: Ellie Nota, C: Agie Hoare, WA: Ffion Gwillim, GA: Emma Roberts, GS: Georgia Brookes

Subs: Freya Soper, Izzy Chilcott, Emma Morgan.

Cardiff University 4th: Hannah Evans, Chloe Hodgetts, Faye Ashton-Rigby, Terri Pearce, Camille Harrison, Isabella Roynon, Jessica Stancliffe

Subs: Francesa Ward, Bethany Proctor, Katherine Ford, Jessica Rees