by Callum Ellis
Date: Wednesday 14 March 2018
Venue: USW Sport Park, Treforest
UNIVERSITY of South Wales 1st concluded their Western 3B season with a 29-48 defeat against Cardiff University 5th.
The away side travelled to the USW Sport Park sitting at the foot of the table, and had already suffered relegation prior to the game. While USW also didn’t have much to play for after their defeat against Cardiff University 4th last time out.
A ‘dead rubber’ is the phrase which is often associated with games which have little meaning in the table, though local bragging rights were still up for grabs at the USW Sport Park.
After working the ball well around the box, USW took an early lead through their goal shooter, and she doubled her side’s advantage just after the restart. USW added their third of the afternoon to put themselves in the driving seat, but Cardiff hit back through their goal shooter.
The visitors netted another through their goal shooter as she linked up well with the goal attack to setup a lively clash. The hosts though were quick to respond as their goal attack grabbed their fourth of the afternoon, before her opposite number halved the deficit for Cardiff.
Gail Calford’s side extended their lead as their goal attack netted two goals in quick succession, after their wing attack did well to create both opportunities. USW scored their seventh of the afternoon minutes later as their goal shooter found space in the visitors’ goal circle.
As the first quarter progressed, Cardiff looked to get a foot in the game and hit back through their goal shooter, who linked up well with their goal attack. USW’s composure began to slip as Cardiff netted three times in the space of two minutes, and it was their goal shooter who caused the home defence a host of problems.
The home side were hoping to get into the interval with the lead, and they did just that as their goal shooter finished off a sweeping move to give them some breathing space. But there was still time for the visitors to hit back through their goal attack, before the end of the first quarter.
USW’s centre and goal shooter both linked up to lead their side’s first attack of the second quarter, but neither of their attacking duo could convert. That wasn’t the case several minutes later though as their goal attack finally grabbed the first goal of the second period to send the hosts on their way.
The visitors quickly responded minutes later as Cardiff’s captain found their goal attack in space, before she grabbed another from close range. The fresh legs of Cardiff’s substitute goal shooter saw her grab her first of the afternoon as she converted at the first time of asking.
Despite trailing in the first period, the visitors headed into the third quarter with the lead and were hoping to put the game beyond USW’s reach. Cardiff’s goal shooter netted four times to extend her side’s lead, after their goal attack opened the scoring in the third quarter.
The game seemed to be swinging in Cardiff’s favour as their goal shooter and goal attack linked up to add a goal each to their tallies for the day. But USW’s goal attack rounded off a well-worked move in the final stages of the third quarter.
The hosts grabbed the first goal of the final quarter through their goal shooter as they looked to setup an unlikely fightback against the visitors. But Cardiff’s goal shooter ensured the game was put beyond any doubt as she grabbed four goals in quick succession.
The hosts added two goals to their tally, before Cardiff’s centre linked up with their goal shooter, who converted from close range. The final stages of the game saw Cardiff’s goal shooter add three more goals to her tally, and she had the final say as she converted to make it 48-29 to the away side.
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