Vital win in Rezzers Black’s Plate quest

While three A teams are currently far aloft in the Premier Division’s title race, Rezzers’ seconds edged Specsavers Lightning B 47-46 in a very close contest, demonstrating the standard of rivalry for the mid-table Plate award.

That Plate will go to fourth place at season’s end and Lightning’s predecessors (T&T Blue) are the holders – but both duelling sides showed their merits on Tuesday night.

This Grammar School encounter ran close from start to finish, with the lead swinging from side to side.

Despite Rezzers starting well and going three goals to the good, Lightning finished the quarter stronger with some excellent defensive work in the circle.

Lively GD Rose Haysom – a Division One step-up – made Rezzers’ circle feel crowded and stopped the easy passes into the D.

Rezzers upped their game in the second and the solid defensive duo of GK Lois Batiste and young, but more than capable, Evie McGall put their youth and experience mix to good effect.

That helped swing the game up to the second half with some good interceptions, on which GA Anna Trump and GS Keeleigh Le Tissier capitalised from all over the circle.

There was nothing in it at half-time – 25-all.

It was arguably the third that won it for Rezzers. They took advantage of their turnovers and with Le Tissier switching to GA and Trump playing the moving GS position, they worked around the defence better and pulled out a 37-34 lead.

Lightning did not let Rezzers run away with it, though, with solid shooting by youngster Immy Giles and able supporter Kate Le Maitre.

Rezzers ultimately saw the game out effectively, using their matchplay experience to hold the ball at the right time, but Lightning rued a small mistake in the last centre pass that possibly denied them the draw.

Rezzers captain Batiste called the victory ‘a real confidence boost that we can dig in and get the win in tough games’.

‘We didn’t panic once, just carried on plugging away and doing what we needed to do – each team had little spells of three unanswered goals throughout the game but we never let our heads go down, just got the turnovers and got a few back ourselves and didn’t let them get too far ahead,’ she said.

‘This is pleasing as a captain that we were mature in that sense.

‘For the season ahead, it’s great to get the win over an evenly-matched team to keep us in contention for fourth and to be the best of the “B” teams – that will be the goal for this season.

‘There will be more tough games ahead, but we are pleased with how it’s going so far.’

Ever-dependable Rezzers WD Shannon Carr again made the key turnovers, earning player-of-the-match honours.

Meanwhile, Lightning captain Le Maitre missed star defenders Sammie Cox and Bonita Le Noury, but Haysom – their own ‘POM’ – certainly helped fill the gap.

‘To say we did not have our usual team, we did really, really well,’ Le Maitre said.

‘The team is getting stronger every time they play and the confidence in the girls is just thriving at the moment.

‘Although we lost by one, we were really pleased by the result, and we made them work for every single goal.’