Half-time changes turn game around

GUERNSEY won a see-saw match with XL that ended 52-41 in the Southern Region League Division Two on Saturday. Away at the Hampshire-based club, the Sonia Grant-Yendell coached team took an early lead, only to find themselves behind at half-time.

After some tactical changes at the start of the second, the Sarnians build up a lead that their opponents had no answer for.

It is their second victory on the bounce in the league after they beat Southampton's Home James last month.

'I'm extremely pleased,' said Grant-Yendell.

'It was a physical game but a nice, competitive game. From a coach's perspective it was nice to have a full squad.

'Kerrie Hussey had an awesome game. She turned over lots of balls and stopped their attack from playing their game.

'It was good to have her available for the island. With her height she is intimidating.

'Nena Bourgaize was good as well. XL named her as the player of the match.'

There was some doubt before the match as to whether Hussey would be available to play having just moved off the island with her job. Grant-Yendell was therefore delighted when her trusty tall goalkeeper made the long trip down from Wales for the match.

The coach was also happy when her team ran the game from the start to take an early three-goal lead. But XL clawed back towards the end of the first quarter that ended 12-10 to the visitors.

The momentum stayed with the home side as they began to be more effective in feeding their goal-shooter through their goal-attack and by half-time had opened up a five-goal lead at 24-19. Meanwhile, at the other end, Guernsey were having problems breaking down XL's zonal defence.

This forced Grant-Yendell to make some changes that saw Nena Bourgaize move to goal-attack, Anna Trump to wing-attack, Amy Wright on at wing-defence and Denise Bourgaize at goal-defence.

'That set up the turning point in the game,' said the coach afterwards.

'It shut down their attack.'

The difference in Guernsey's performance was immediate as they shot 19 goals in the third quarter to take a 38-33 lead going into the fourth. It was all about consolidation in the last 15 minutes for the Sarnians as they notched up a further 14 goals to ensure that the victory was theirs.

Their next league match sees them away again at the weekend to take on Buckinghamshire.