Nothing between the two sides disputing the Plate

Rezzers Black’s final meeting of the season with key rivals Lightning B produced the first draw of this ‘Prem’ campaign, illustrating perfectly the close match-up between these two teams that blend youth and experience.

Both have been contesting the division’s Plate, which is awarded at season’s end to fourth place – best of the rest behind the three title-pushing A teams – and last year was won by Lightning under their former title of T&T Blue.

But Rezzers now look comfortable in fourth after maintaining an unbeaten run against the other lower-table teams, and not losing to Blaze B in two weeks would get them over the line.

After Rezzers beat Lightning by a single goal in their prior meeting, Tuesday saw an even closer duel at Grammar School.

Both teams started well in centre court as the ball went back and forth possession-wise.

The defence at both ends was very tight and young Rezzers GD Evie McGall played excellently all game to keep the Lightning shooters working hard for every goal.

Heading Lightning’s own defensive performance were GD Sammie Cox, who worked tirelessly and made numerous intercepts, and GK Lily Simmons.

Fittingly, quarter one ended 7-all.

Rezzers started quarter two better and player-of-the-match GS Keeleigh Le Tissier worked out how to find more space and be strong against the rangy Simmons, sinking some great shots under pressure.

That also settled GA Emma Sykes as they shot Rezzers to a 18-16 lead at half time.

The second half saw the lead switch constantly as each team traded small scoring runs of two or three.

Yet Lightning, who had led 31-29 into the final quarter, rued several unforced errors that may have denied them the win.

Turnovers in centre-court were constant, with Rezzers C Evie Robinson working hard at both ends, and WA Shannon Carr also got progressively better out of her normal, more defensive position to feed their shooters well.

Lightning GS Shelley De Lisle found her form in the last quarter and clicked alongside GA Immy Giles – their own POM – as both piled pressure on Rezzers in the dying minutes.

But Rezzers captain Lois Batiste was pleased to avoid the loss.

‘I think it was a fair result from a very well-contested game, and I am happy with no points lost to the team that sit just under us, especially given we were missing three usual starters due to illness,’ she said after entering without Claire Green, Savannah Goddard and Anna Trump.

‘They have got some good players all from about the same era as we have – long-standing players – mixed with a few youth players.

‘There’s experience and youth there, so we are having some really good games against them.’

Lightning captain Kate Le Maitre had been relegated by injury to an interested spectator but praised the whole team, despite narrowly missing the win.

‘It was very well-contested,’ she said.

‘As far as I am concerned, it was ours for the taking at points.

‘At points we were ahead and made some silly mistakes, costly mistakes we know we can do better than, which gave them back the lead that we had.’

Up top, leaders Lightning A have received 10 easy points over the last two nights, with both Blaze B and Rezzers Black being unable to field fully eligible sides against them.