Applemore held at bay by starlets

NERINE keep getting positive results in the South Regional League despite fielding younger sides by the round. At home to Applemore, Gill Queripel's starlets staved off a strong last-quarter revival by the English side to win 36-33 and move up to second in the table.

'It was another very good result considering six of the first team were unavailable,' said the Nerine coach.

'I was beginning to wonder whether we could win as they were dropping out one by one, but the girls played very well.'

At 23, wing defence Cassie Le Page was the oldest player in a side with an average age of just 19.

By the end of the first quarter in the warmth of the Grammar School hall, the scores were tied at 9-9.

But Nerine romped into a 22-16 lead at half-time and they had taken the advantage to eight at 31-23 with just the final 15min. period remaining.

With goal shooter Kerri Brown fighting the effects of influenza - she had to briefly leave the court at one stage in the third quarter - and Nerine flagging as a side, Applemore hit back strongly in the last quarter to briefly worry Queripel.

'They applied an awful lot of pressure and got four goals on the bounce,' she said.

But the final whistle came as welcome relief to the local youngsters who continue to please their coach.

'We've got such a young side. It's awesome really.'

The coach is still eyeing a high finish despite a tough second part of the season.

It's still a long way to go but I'm hopeful of finishing in the top three.'

That may not be so easy with the quality of opposition the Guernsey champions still have to face.

Among those they still have to play are the unbeaten leaders NRG. Meanwhile, XL's request that Nerine travel to the UK to play them has been rejected by the Guernsey side.

*Nerine: Kerri Brown, Lyndsey Bougourd, Lisa Martin, Donna Brehaut, Cassie Le Page, Amy Wright and Gemma Loveridge.