By Haydn Evans
UNIVERSITY of South Wales earned their first league win of the season with a 43-34 victory over Cardiff University Medics at the USW Sport Park.
The home side came into the game on the back of a dramatic overtime victory against Cardiff Met 5th in the Western Conference cup last Wednesday, however, they were yet to taste a win in the league.
A frantic opening quarter in Treforest saw both sides’ attackers exchange points but it was USW’s forward duo Megan Jones and Abigail Meredith, who impressed in last week’s cup win, who were the more ruthless. The duo outscored their counterparts by 11 goals to seven in the first period, seven of which came from goal-shooter Jones.
Natasha Cowell came in at goal attack for the second quarter and put in an impressive performance as USW took a hold of the game.
Jones added another eight goals to take her tally to 15, and Cowell provided a further three goals to the five scored by the away side’s attackers Osa Eghesa and Elin Thomas.
The home side led 22-12 at the break.
A more evenly balanced third quarter saw the away side outscore USW by 12 goals to 10, as Jones and Meredith netted five goals each for the hosts. Cardiff’s top scorer for the evening, Josie Richards landed seven and Elin Thomas managed five, including a three-goal burst to end the quarter.
Trailing by nine goals, Cardiff needed a big effort to find a route back into the game. But USW pulled away to ensure their first league victory of the campaign was secured, with the influential Jones proving to be a key component in the home side’s triumph.
