Rezzers Green on point with a fifth win

Champions Rezzers Green overcame their rivals SNC Blaze A 59-43 in a top-of-the-table clash, therefore completing the first round of Deloitte Winter League Premier Division matches unbeaten, and this was followed by their B team’s giant-killing act of edging Specsavers Lightning Strike 60-56.

Both of these significant victories occurred in a Les Varendes double bill on Tuesday night.

For that opening clash between two of the league’s established ‘big three’, experienced players Tiff Gervaise-Brazier, Anna Sauvarin and Verona Tomlin – all of whom are veterans’ inter-insular champions – stepped up from their B team.

Initially, it proved a fiercely competitive affair, including both teams repeatedly scoring off their opponents’ centre passes.

The distinctly youthful Blaze side – who had four U19s on court, including eventual player of the match Frankie Savident at WA – showed good composure to claw back from any early deficit.

It was only near the end of quarter one that Rezzers managed to create a stable lead, pushing away to 14-10.

That momentum carried into the second and third quarters, throughout which the Greens dominated.

Rezzers stuck with a constant squad under the leadership of several evergreen players.

This included the imposing circle defence of Gemma Batiste and Abby McCracken, who claimed numerous rebounds and turnovers between them.

Centre Gervaise-Brazier showed strong cohesion with veterans’ inter-insular teammates Sauvarin and Tomlin, proving a tricky attack to outwit. GS Tomlin was making shots drop particularly effortlessly.

Two U19s – WD Erin Sullivan and WA Liv Cotterill – brought fresh blood to that otherwise seasoned Rezzers line-up, with the latter putting in a player-of-the-match effort.

Blaze shook it up by bringing in all-time great Nena Copperwaite, who has long been absent from regular league play, deep into quarter three.

But Rezzers’ collective strength allowed them to lead 30-21 at half-time and 46-30 after quarter three.

The final quarter proved a dead heat, 13 goals apiece, as Blaze’s U19s – also including WD McKenzie Rich, plus sharp-shooters Eva Bourgaize and Sophia Roger – joined forces effectively with their experienced teammates.

‘We struggled initially with our team, with injuries and people stuck in the UK, so we had to use our strongest squad from both teams,’ Rezzers captain McCracken said after this fifth successive win.

‘We played really well today and Blaze gave us a really well-contested match.

‘It was just a really nice game to play.’

After crediting the team performances of both sides, McCracken added: ‘Second quarter, we just found our stride and we stepped it up.

‘Anna and Verona played really well together.’

Fielding these experienced step-ups did not remove the sting from Rezzers Black, who proceeded to upset 2022-2023 champions Lightning Strike.

The Blacks started both Gervaise-Brazier and Tomlin, yet with Island player Savannah Goddard taking C after warming up in the dying minutes of the previous match, and they sped out of the blocks to lead 15-12.

Viv Kemgne and eventual POM Tracey Lock provided a consistently solid defence for Rezzers, but they capitalised on their options elsewhere throughout the match. This included shooters Taylor Callanan and Lola Wakefield coming into the mid-court.

Meanwhile, with Strike having multiple players unavailable, they had called up Hayley Brehaut and Nat Le Page from C team Storm.

They battled back in quarter two, leaving only a single-goal deficit at half-time – 26-25.

But a poor end to quarter three cost Donna Brehaut’s side dearly as Rezzers hit that break 38-34 ahead, maintaining this lead to the final whistle.

Following her return from travelling, Charlotte Hill earned Lightning POM for a dependably strong performance in mid-court.

‘We kept our heads up throughout, and fought until the end,’ Rezzers star Goddard said.

‘We learned to play our game and were so versatile, patient and had lots of turnovers.

‘So super happy with the overall result and win.

‘The season’s only just started and it already feels very exciting.’

This result makes it a Rezzers one-two in the current standings, with Greens staying on top and Blacks now leapfrogging Blaze. Lightning Strike took two bonus points due to being within five goals, but remain in fourth.

‘A fairly even and contested game throughout,’ Lightning captain Brehaut said.

‘A slight blip in the third quarter cost us dearly.

‘Our players from Storm did brilliantly and we were disappointed not to come away with more out of the game.

‘In the circumstances with player availability, we were pleased, however, to

come away with the bonus points.’