Panthers lack killer edge
SAFFERY PANTHERS saw their Division Three South promotion hopes suffer a big blow as a poor second half saw them defeated by rivals Meon.
Travelling to Portsmouth for the crucial match on Sunday, the Sarnians began well and were on course to move second in the league table when 16-14 up at half-time.
However, their lack of a killer edge in the attacking third cost them dearly as the UK side turned it around in quarter three and then dominated quarter four for a resounding 37-27 success.
It means that Panthers drop to fifth place and although only three points off Woodley in third, it has put huge pressure on this weekend's home match against fourth-placed Sussex Lightning.
Panthers joint-coach Tracie Hards, who was in charge for this trip, admitted that her side were perhaps intimidated by a street-wise Meon defence.
'It was frustrating because it was a really mixed bag – there were parts of the game where our court play was fantastic but other times where it was ordinary,' she said.
'Ultimately, we weren't clinical enough in the shooting circle and it is certainly true that you won't win many games at all, if any, when you score 27 goals.'
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