Contenders show their credentials
THE CHAMPIONS are off to a winning start in the Winter League – but so are their most proven rivals.
Resolution IT Green did not falter against newcomers Specsavers Lightning B in the first half of Tuesday night’s Premier Division double-bill, winning 54-34 as they target a title three-peat.
Yet Shields and Rutland Blaze A looked every bit as impressive when they took over the Grammar School court and beat Resolution IT Black 60-35.
It has the makings of a three-horse title race – the other big threat being Specsavers Lightning A, who have welcomed back Lorna Hall since competing as T&T Purple last season – and so star Rezzers defender Gemma Batiste, who was deputising for a holidaymaking captain Tiff Gervaise-Brazier, expects a ‘hard fight’ to retain their crown.
‘I’d be lying if I stood here and said “Nah, we don’t want to win”, as of course we do – that’s the whole point,’ she said.
‘But we’re not taking anything for granted. We know Blaze A are really strong, and we know Specsavers A have Lorna back this year ... they’re going to be really, really strong.’
Even in Tuesday’s 20-goal win, Batiste was left ruing a slow start where their opponents held them tight well into the second quarter.
She is determined to get going faster against Lightning and Blaze A.
‘We can’t afford to give those teams a head start,’ she said.
‘I’m looking forward to it, and it’s going to be a really good, hotly-contested league. If anyone has a slow start, then it will certainly come into it at the end of the season.’
Report in Thursday's Guernsey Press.
