Champions survive early scare against Barclays Masters

BARCLAYS MASTERS must have thought they were dreaming when, briefly, they led the champions in their Condor Ferries League Division One clash at Beau Sejour. At the end of the opening quarter they led Nerine A 5-3, but the second quarter saw Nerine sort themselves out and with the goals popping in at regular intervals, they finished it with a lead of 15-8.

Although Barclays Masters fought hard against this very unsettled Nerine side, they just could not get the goals and the final score was a 26-11 win for Nerine.

Meanwhile, Nerine B defeated their D side 42-23.

Good defending by B's Larissa Rabey and Amy Wright made it very difficult for D's shooters Kate Seabrook and Kirsty Young.

Elsewhere in the top flight, P & J Conservatories One lost 60-19 to TCCI in a game where P & J could only field six players.

Excellent shooting from Jan Fazakerley and Nerissa Tullier put TCCI in a convincing position from the first whistle and although P & J fought hard and did not give up, they really did miss their seventh player.

The Nerine C veterans continued on their winning ways by beating Nerine D 55-28 and MPR Sarnians One 51-43.

In Division Two, Nerine F took an early lead in their game against Nerine G which they managed to maintain throughout.

F's centre court players worked the ball quickly and accurately up to their shooters Shelley Delisle and Lisa Martin, while Lucy Cochrane made some excellent interceptions and thoroughly deserved her player-of-the-match nomination.

But G never gave up and managed to stay in touch with some particularly good defending by GD Elka de Carteret.

Nerine E dominated their game against PWC winning 59-5 thanks largely to some outstanding shooting by Kiara de Carteret and Kirsty Young.

Unfortunately for PWC, they were without a WD for the second half and at the start of the third quarter PWC C Carrie Dodd got injured. Heritage One also continued their winning streak by beating P & J Conservatories Two 59-29.

Although the six players of P & J fought hard and never gave up at any stage, they could not stop the accurate shooting of Vicky Gill and Kim Abbotts.

Also the height of the Heritage defence made it difficult for the P & J shooters to get any rebounds.

Nerine F started their game determined to win and they gave MPR Sarnians Three very little chance to settle into any rhythm.

Excellent circle work by Nerine's GS Ashley Perkins and GA Roxanne Wylie made it very difficult for the Sarnians defence and they led 28-8 at half time.

The switching of GS Laura Callaway to GA made a difference to the Sarnian team but unfortunately this was done too late and Nerine came out winners 43-18. All credit to Sarnians, they never gave up and fought hard all the way.

In the bottom division, Heritage Three lost to Nerine J 25-11.

Nerine always had the edge from the first whistle with some good defensive play from Clare Stone making it difficult for the Heritage shooters.

Rebecca Iles earned her player-of-the-match nomination for Nerine with some good centre court play and accurate feeding into the circle where shooters Sara Mallett and Alice Loveridge converted these passes into goals.

The score would have been a lot higher but for some outstanding defensive play from Heritage's GD Gemma Brouard.