Leeds Annihilate Edinburgh Netball Girls

Edinburgh Netball 1st team stepped out onto court for their first game in the BUCS Netball Premier North Division against Leeds Met on Wednesday. The girls are representing the only team in Scotland to play against English opponents and with many of the girls at Leeds Met playing in the Super League they knew they were in for an uphill struggle. The last time these two teams met the score ended 61-20 to the away side.
However, it was Edinburgh who opened up the scoring, Lindsey Tien and Francesca Grieve putting the home side deservedly 2-0 up. Josie Curtis was providing the energy and movement in the middle of the court to keep the ball out of Leeds’ grasp. Yet, Leeds was just getting warmed-up and after their few early lapses, settled into their winning stride. Leeds’ goal shooter was too quick for Edinburgh’s captain, Kate Cooper, who struggled to match her extremely talented opponent. Leeds’ sharpness and ability to pass the ball with great speed enabled them to open-up the Edinburgh defence with relative ease and by the end of the first quarter the score line read 15-6 to the home side’s opponents.
The second quarter proved to be just unsuccessful. Charlotte Newell started it off from the centre pass, giving the ball straight to the opposition. It was clear that Edinburgh felt the game was getting away from them, yet in their eagerness to move forward more mistakes crept in. Leeds, on the other hand, were going from strength to strength, utilising training ground moves which enabled them to have shooting opportunities after a mere three passes from the centre pass. Tien and Grieve continued to offer some glimmer of hope with some great link-up play providing them with rare chances which they duly dispatched. However, their resistance was blighted by a lack of service and some physical defending which you would not have thought legal in a supposedly non-contact sport. Grieve was even struck in the face by her muscular opponent, one could only hope it was not intentional.
Leeds led into the third quarter 30-13, the game pretty much over so Edinburgh brought on a few changes in an attempt to mix things up. Sophie Carmichael came on to try and help Cooper out with her defensive duties, against a formidable strike-force. The extra height and Cooper’s return to form provided the home side with some strong defending, with some well taken interceptions and rebounds. However, Clare Gaskell, who had replaced Charlotte Newell at centre, was at times careless with her passing and with Leeds’ superb counter-attacking capabilities Cooper and Carmichael found themselves soon overwhelmed. Kari Taylor replaced Grieve, yet her partnership with Tien was not as fluid, with the same being said about her consistency to score. So by the end of the third quarter the lead had stretched further to 32 points, the score being 48-16.
The fourth quarter provided much of the same and the away side ran out comfortable 63-17 winners. However, the girls have much to be proud of. As already mentioned they are the only University in Scotland who are in this league and many of their opponents have the ability to entice in top quality players. This was also the team’s first game this season, so time is needed for them to form greater understanding of their team-mate’s movements, which will eventually enable them to play sharper, more effective netball. Last year, Edinburgh managed to stay in this league with a last second goal by Tien against Newcastle, if the girls are going to remain in this league it is likely the same desire and fighting spirit is going to be needed throughout the rest of the season.