Below-strength TCCI concede twice to the champions

WHO can stop the champions? Some teams are giving up before a ball is thrown.

Mid-table TCCI conceded two walkovers to Nerine A as the Condor Ferries League resumed after the festive break, but Nerine coach Gill Queripel was loathe to criticise them.

'They had girls on holiday and sick and could get out only six players,' she said.

'They are a single team and run with only 10 girls.

'TCCI would normally always play you, no matter what. They would also push us hard,' said the coach, whose team resumed their campaign against Nerine C.

The veterans gave the champions a tough time, losing by just nine goals, 35 to 44.

The A team, who fielded only two regular first-team players, were held to 7-7 in the first quarter.

But in the second they started to edge away with some excellent shooting from young Kerri Brown.

Barclays Masters have had mixed fortunes this season and in the same week won one and lost one.

They lost 33-19 to MPR Sarnians One in a game in which some excellent defending by Julie Wright and Elaine Creed helped keep Sarnians' shooters Zoe Batiste and Jane Fear, who were in good form and rarely missed, fairly quiet.

In their other game, Masters beat MPR Sarnians Two 28-18.

They took control from the first whistle. Julie Donaldson's shooting was superb and she rarely missed a shot, while at the other end, the strong defence of Masters made it very difficult for their opponents' attack.

Sarnians' birthday girl and player of the match Abby Manley Guilbert found her shooting form towards the end, but it was too late to stop Masters from collecting the five points.

P & J Conservatories One started off well in their game against Nerine B, scoring two goals before the latter got going.

But although P & J never gave up, they found it hard to convert the goals due to Nerine's tall defence.

Louise Bott worked hard at WD for P&J and made some timely interceptions to earn her the player-of-the-match nomination along with Kerri Brown for Nerine B, who converted a lot of shots to ensure her team ran out 43-15 winners.

In the top division's only other match, Nerine D put up an exciting fight against an on-form MPR Sarnians One.

Donna Brehaut shone at centre and was ably assisted in centre court by Kim Le Lacheur and Lois Batiste.

Claire Green was also very energetic at the heart of the Nerine defence and deservedly earned her star-player nomination but this could not stop the Sarnians, whon won 47-21.

Division Two had its own top-of-the-table clash between Heritage One and Nerine E.

Heritage started the match well and some fine shooting by GS Kim Abbotts and GA Vicky Gill saw them take an early 10-3 lead.

Nerine were finding it difficult to settle but once they did, they hit back to finish the third quarter three goals behind.

The final period was very tense and saw some excellent shooting, but Heritage just hung on to take the match 27-25.

Nerine E gained a victory when they beat MPR Sarnians Three 39-7.

In this game, Nerine dominated from the start with some good, controlled, centre-court play by Joan Ozanne and some accurate shooting by Kirsty Young and Alice Loveridge.

For Sarnians, Becky Wightman earned her star nomination for some excellent defending but it was not enough to stop Nerine E taking the points.

P & J Conservatories Two beat the five players of GMS just 43-35 in a game which was close all the way through.

Credit must go to GMS who fought hard despite their numerical disadvantage and made it very difficult for P&J.

GMS centre Andrea Inder had an outstanding game, bringing the ball down from defence to attack, and fully deserved her player-of-the-match nomination, as did young Kayleigh Robert for P & J Conservatories Two.

In their other game, GMS lost to Heritage One 43-33.

The first quarter saw Heritage One take a narrow lead, but this was soon reeled in by GMS during the second thanks to some accurate shooting by Sharna Bunyan and Abby Lajoie and some determined centre-court play.

However Heritage One showed their strength and experience in the second half of the match and pulled ahead to win by 10 goals.

PWC were beaten in both their games.

In Division Three, Heritage Three enjoyed a deserved 41-21 win over Nerine K.

The experience of the Heritage team showed, but credit to the Nerine youngsters who did not give up.

Both defences worked hard and Nerine's WD Debbie Oland and Heritage's GD Gemma Brouard both deserved their nominations.