Black and Green make an all-Rezzers final

After freshly-crowned Deloitte Winter League champions Rezzers Green lived up to their favourites’ tag in the first of Tuesday’s semi-finals, their B team reiterated just how far they have come by winning the other play-off.

Rezzers Black have emerged from Green’s shadow to become genuine contenders this season, beating every rivalling side at least once to finish the league as runners-up.

They carried this fantastic form into Tuesday’s Cup semi-finals at Les Varendes, outgunning Blaze A 67-58.

Blacks captain Lois Batiste hopes that the final, which takes place on Sunday 6 April, can serve as a celebration for the club.

‘As a B team, we set ourselves a goal at the start of the season to try and get a Rezzers one-two,’ she said.

‘After a slow start, we are thrilled to have achieved this Rezzers first and second milestone for the first time since we formed and it just happened to come in our 15th season.

‘Rezzers are made up of a versatile group of players who love the game, the club, and work hard for each other, and this shone through this season.

‘We are so proud of how far this club has come and the family it’s created – it’s what the founding members hoped to achieve at the start and has developed since then.’

Black sped out the blocks to win quarter one 17-12 against a very youthful Blaze side, who were missing Tillie Graham following an inter-insular injury.

They chipped away further to reach half-time leading 33-26, before entering the final quarter 51-39 ahead.

Blaze mounted a late fightback but Rezzers showed maturity and composure to keep the game in their hands.

It was a game for the young goal-shooters, with Rezzers’ Poppy Bisson and Blaze’s Sophia Roger sharing player of the match.

‘We’ve blended youth and experience this year, which has paid off, and the younger players – especially Poppy and Lola [Wakefield] – have come on leaps and bounds this year in confidence and match play,’ the captain said while also highlighting defensive signings Jo Jehan, Viviane Kamworth and Naomi Szmierek.

With both Rezzers teams facing injury problems, Szmierek stepped up into the Greens’ defensive circle and put in a POM performance to help overcome Lightning Strike 53-46.

Strike proved the dominant force in quarter one and blasted to a 14-8 lead.

But Rezzers soon settled and gained a valuable cushion over the next two periods, leading 24-22 and 40-33.

Off the back of her inter-insular captaincy, C Charlotte Hill claimed player honours for Lightning.