Match Reports
18th March 2023
Hinckley A had their final match of the season on Wednesday last week against Copsewood Diamonds C. Typical of a Wednesday evening (normally Hinckley’s training night) it was tipping it down with rain, but Hinckley were still eager to play and end their season with a win. The first quarter got off to a slippery start, with some dropped balls and wild passes from both teams, but Hinckley found their rhythm towards the end of the quarter and took the lead 12-8. The second and third quarters were very similar, with Hinckley keeping their cool and slowly increasing their lead by 1 goal per quarter. Hinckley’s player of the match Beth Thurairajah appeared to be on rocket fuel, she was easily covering the court, flying in for intercepts and jumping on par with a kangaroo. Her energy and determination helped drive her team and maintain their composure despite some rough play from their opposition. Hinckley managed to secure their final win of the season with a close score of 43-38, earning a promotion spot which takes them into division 1 next season. A huge congratulations to all the players, and a massive thanks to all the umpires, subs, officials and spectators for their amazing support all season.
Our E team also had their final two games of the season last week. Achieving two solids wins against Alvis D, 35-24 in the first match and a nail-biting 28-27 in the second. With POMs going to Tracey Pallett and Cara Stuckey respectively.
11th March 2023
Hinckley A played at home this weekend against Henley C in their penultimate match of the season. It was a tough game with some great netball from both sides. Unfortunately, one of Hinckley A’s attackers broke her arm the day before the fixture, so there was a last-minute scramble to find enough players for Hinckley to field a full team of seven. However, Chloe and Katie Phillips from Hinckley B were able to rearrange their morning plans and attend the fixture as sub and player respectively. A huge thank you again to both for helping Hinckley A in their hour of need. The first quarter of the match was steady and evenly matched as both teams got into their own rhythm. Hinckley A edged ahead and ended the quarter leading 15-12. The second quarter for Hinckley was slightly erratic and disjointed, allowing Henley to take the lead by 6 goals. A constructive half time team talk, with helpful advice from Hinckley’s injured players D’arcey Arrowsmith and Nic Cairns, resulted in Hinckley playing their own game again and clawing back the goal difference. Flying intercepts from goal defence Bethany Willars, and clinical shooting from shooting partners Lucy Marsden and player of the match Holly Hemsley contributed to making a dent in Henley’s lead, however it was not enough to secure a win and ended 54-49 to Henley. Hinckley’s final match of the season and their last chance to secure top of the league takes place Wednesday.
Hinckley B travelled away to play Henley D for the last game of the season. Hinckley were slow to start, taking a few minutes to get used to a change to their usual formation due to player unavailability. Hinckley were 7-11 down after the first quarter, but some great defensive work from Annis Pears and Anna Clayden in the Henley circle put a stop to the flow of feeds into the on form Henley shooter. Nic Wallace played a steadying WD, bringing the ball down court to link well with the attack. The centre court found it difficult to feed to the shooters at first, struggling to get the ball over or around the Henley GK who seemed to dominate the whole shooting D. But the determination of centre Caron Ogden and WA Katie Phillips, found a way through. Hinckley trailed by 9 going into the last 15 minutes, and despite some lovely netball, and Hinckley shooting duo, Chloe Phillips and Carole Payne putting in some great long bomb shots, they couldn’t reel in the goal deficit and fell to a 37-27 loss. PoM went to Centre Caron Ogden.
Hinckley C played Alec High on Saturday, for the last game of the season. Hinckley started off strong with tight marking & accurate passes. First quarter time saw Alec High taking a slight lead. With a burst of energy Hinckley fought hard however Alec High continued their lead. By half time Hinckley continued with energy, numerous intercepting tips from Emily Moyo & Derry O’Neill assisting the turn overs to Hinckley’s advantage. Nic Wallace, making accurate passes up the centre court to attackers Susan Ley & Ellie Kyriacou who worked together to create space for shooters Thea Weaver & Polly Coward to shoot in the circle. Spectators on the side line supported the C’s as they continued to work hard right to the end. Alec High won 55-33, Player went to Susan Ley.
Hinckley Ladies D team played Stockton F on Tuesday 7th March. Hinckley took the lead early on in the first quarter with a very strong start, full of encouragement and good teamwork especially around the attacking circle. Hinckley’s momentum continued with some amazing turnovers from the defence allowing the attackers more opportunities to continue the lead, the score at half time was 24-14. With consistent attacking play down the court and great pressure from the defence, Hinckley ended the third quarter still with the lead, the score being 36-22. The final quarter saw Hinckley pull away even more through determination from the defence to go for every interception and speed from the attack, Hinckley finished with a brilliant score of 53-33. POM to GD Evie Smith.
Hinckley’s D & E team were back playing against each other in the Division 7 local derby this week. Unfortunately, with injuries, illnesses & work commitments the D team were down to 4 players so had to use 2 players from the E team squad of 8 & then both teams had 6 aside to play each other. Consequently, the D team were playing with ‘new’ players & a couple out of their normal positions & they struggled to settle in the first quarter, finding it hard to get into a rhythm. The E team were able to start strong and having made the decision to keep their full defence and drop their WA this made it difficult for Ds and the Es were able to pick up interceptions more easily. The E team took a 16-goal lead by the end of the quarter. The D team had a few changes going into the second quarter which did work to their advantage but still they struggled to move the ball effectively down the court and into the goal end and the movement from the E team attack made it very hard to defend or turnover. Hinckley’s GA Cara Stuckey (pom for the E team) had some fabulous drives into the circle & linked well with Tracey Pallett at Centre and Anita King at Goal Shooter. The D team had some lovely attacking plays going into the final two quarters with some strong drives in & around the circle especially from Polly Coward at GS & Maddi Seller at C/WA (both named joint pom for the Ds). A difficult game for both teams, however the Es went on to win the game 55-21. A strong performance that the Es hope to bring to their last 2 games in the week!
4th March 2023
Hinckley A had their first fixture in nearly three weeks on Saturday, and they were excited to get back to playing after the break. Hinckley needed the first quarter just to find their feet and get back into the swing of things, they headed into the second quarter trailing by only 1 goal. Playing their game in the second quarter saw them bring it back and take the lead 22-18. After a half time team talk, Hinckley A dominated the third quarter. Smooth through court play, tight defence from Emma Draycott, Bethany Willars, and player of the match Jess Rainbow, and clinical movement in attack saw Hinckley slot in 18 goals that quarter. Hinckley extended their lead in the final quarter, winning the match 53-34.
Hinckley B faced top of the table C&NW on Saturday. Scores were close at half time but C&NW really pushed on in the second half with the final score 40-25 to C&NW. POM going to Katie Phillips in the midcourt.
Hinckley’s C team had three rearranged fixtures during the half term break. The first saw them face Alec High. The first quarter started very even with each centre being scored by the team who took it. The attack was on point and the defence was tight. The second quarter started with the opposition dominating but Hinckley C managed to pull it back ending it with another tie. The 3rd quarter started well with centre court making moves into space and getting it down to the shooting circle and the defence working hard to keep the opposition from scoring however morale started to drop and the opposition pulled away. The last quarter was tough, but Hinckley C kept trying and worked hard to score. Lucy Ibbetson’s and Thea Weaver’s shooting was on point and the movement around the D was satisfying to watch. Cara Stuckey and Ellie Kyriacou made beautiful moves and worked together to get the ball to the D moving into space whilst Nic Wallace, Beth Swain and Emily Moyo were in the defence slowing play and being open for a backup helping the attack. Unfortunately, the match ended 31-58 to Alec High. POM went to Nic Wallace.
The C’s second rearranged fixture was a home game against Stockton D. There was great movement up the court, keeping pressure on the opposition. Ellie Kyriacou, Sue Ley and Nic Wallace worked well together passing between each other and getting interceptions, with Ellie as a deserving POM. The shooters made good use of the circle and were able to communicate efficiently. The team also showed great defending in the goal third, good pressure put on throughout! The final score was 55-25 to Stockton.
C’s third game was against Ernesford D. Throughout the match, the centre court worked well, communicating and managing to get the ball to the shooters efficiently. The shooters were making use of the circle and putting up some great shots. Defence also worked really hard, managing to put pressure on the opposition in the circle and get interceptions. Emily Moyo and Derry O’Neill, both playing in defence, were given joint POM. The final score 54-35 to Ernesford.
On Saturday Hinckley C faced a strong Earlsdon Highway side. Hinckley found things difficult down the defence end but they persevered, blocking the Goal Attack out and putting pressure on the Goal Shooter. Hinckley really brought it back in the 3rd quarter with some great movement and feeds into the circle but the gap created in the first half was too much to come back from. A very well-deserved POM going to Lucy Ibbetson with great shooting and movement in the circle, the final score was 70-32 to Earlsdon Highway.
Hinckley D played Ernesford E at home. Both teams started off strong, with Ernesford taking an early lead in the first quarter, 10-5. In the second quarter, Ernesford turned over a lot of the Hinckley’s play by intercepting the ball, ending the quarter at 21-9. Both Hinckley and Ernesford made changes to their team. Unfortunately, Ernesford remained strong for the last two quarters with the final score being 47-20. Player went to Cara Stuckey (C) deservingly for driving into space and accurate passing up the court and into the circle.
Hinckley E played Warwick B in a night game last week. After the recent matches against the top of the table teams it was nice for the Es to have a more evenly matched game. Play throughout was consistent with lots of movement around court, and an overall low scoring game. Hinckley started well taking an early lead but as the quarters progressed Warwick then pulled it back. Going into the last quarter there were 3 goals between both sides & some unforced errors & missed opportunities saw Warwick go further ahead winning 27 – 20. Pom went to Tracey Pallett at GA.
11th February 2023
Hinckley A had another Tuesday evening match last week. It was an away game against Henley C, and it was the first time the two sides had faced each other this season. Due to some injuries, Hinckley were without their full squad, however they had Caron Ogden from Hinckley B playing wing defence for them and Lucy Ibbetson from Hinckley C subbing – huge thanks again to them both for joining us on a freezing Tuesday night to help us out! Hinckley A took an early lead in the first quarter, heading into the second with a score of 14-11. Henley fought back in the second quarter, but Hinckley maintained their steady composure and squeezed ahead by another goal, with a half time score of 23-19. Henley again turned up the heat for the second half, with some great turnovers from their experienced defence they clawed back some goals but Hinckley managed to hold out until the final whistle, winning by just one goal! The final score was 43-42 and player of the match went to goal shooter/attack Holly Hemsley for her strong performance and leadership throughout the game.
Hinckley A faced Godiva A at the weekend, and they welcomed defender Chloe Holman for her first game back after bringing beautiful baby Arthur into the world in November – congratulations again to Chloe & Jed! The game started with Hinckley’s defence turning over a few of Godiva’s centre passes and capitalising on these, which lead to them taking an early 3-goal lead after the first quarter. Hinckley increased their lead in the second quarter, perfecting their timing and passing across court and keeping their cool, they led heading into the second half with a score of 18-11. Knowing that the final positions in the league table could come down to goal difference, Hinckley really stepped up their game for the second half of the match. Tight defensive pressure in the circle from Lucy Marsden and player of the match Chloe Holman meant that Hinckley made countless turnovers, gaining possession and then delivering the ball to their sharp shooters with clinical through court play. The team really found their flow, and Hinckley were able to score another 30 goals in the second half, winning the match 48-21. Special mention to wing attack Emily Harrison from Hinckley’s B team, who slotted in brilliantly in Hinckley A’s attacking end and not only smashed it the whole game, but she then went on to play her own match in the afternoon and smashed that too!
Hinckley B’s travelled to Rugby this week in what was to be a close fought match. Both teams started strongly but with little chance to take advantage of the opposition’s errors, Rugby took the lead 11-7 after the first 15 minutes. The B’s continued their fight and worked hard to try and make the most of their time with the ball, but Rugby capitalised on Hinckley’s errors to remain up by 4 at half time. The B’s played some good netball but ultimately it just wasn’t to be with the home team taking the win 49-37. Hinckley arguably deserved more from the game, but the team look to take points from their last remaining 3 matches. Player went to Chloe Phillips at GA for her strong presence in attack.
Hinckley D team played Warwick B team on Wednesday, with two players from the E team. The first quarter started with only 6 players, whilst the girls managed to stay calm and keep the ball flowing up the court nicely, Warwick won the first quarter 9-7. From the start this game was very tight as there were lots of turnovers on both sides, but after a switch of positions in defence and attack for the second quarter, Hinckley ended the second quarter up 18-14. For the second half of the game, the D team continued with their turnovers, passes and determination which allowed them to keep the close lead and finish the game at 3-34, with player of the match being Anna Poulsen for her excellent work in attack and sharp shooting.
Hinckley D played Ernesford E on Saturday and were immediately disadvantaged ahead of the first centre pass due to playing the game with 6 players. Despite this they agreed to remain positive and ensure they stayed strong to convert their centre passes. They started the game well, however the lack of WD was mounting much pressure on our defence, particularly when attacking through court as they were short of another defensive option. After player rotation in the first quarter break, they were able to tighten up in defence and also create some great link up through court. Unfortunately, the lack of WD was particularly evident and Ernesford were able to capitalise by putting Hinckley under much pressure and resulted in comfortably winning the game. Final score 72-27 to Ernesford E. A great effort nonetheless from all that played. POM Megan Smith.
Hinckley E have played the 2 top teams in their league this week which were both really difficult games, away Tuesday night against Ernesford E & home on Saturday against Earlsdon Highway E. Both opposition teams had strong attack & despite Hinckley’s defence best efforts they could not stop the goals going in. In centre court Hinckley were not as fluid as in previous games & their attack struggled to make the most of their shooting opportunities. Hinckley unfortunately had a couple of injuries during the week & were missing two key players which did not help. Spirits however kept battling on but the Es couldn’t do enough to get a point from either game. Player of the matches were Summer-Lily Slater playing her first time at WD, & Charlotte Neville for her persistent energy at C, well done to both in their first year in Senior netball. Final scores were 18-65 and 14-68 to Ernesford E and Earlsdon Highway E respectively.
4th February 2023
Hinckley A had another night game last week; a rearranged game from before Christmas which was originally cancelled due to frosty courts. It was an away game vs Stockton, both teams fighting for the top two promotion spots in their division. Knowing it was going to be a close game, Hinckley paced themselves and calmly took a one goal lead heading into the second quarter. The game was very physical and evenly matched throughout, with a lot of contested body on body play, it was a scrappy second quarter and Stockton took a four goal lead at half time. Thanks to the versatility of Hinckley’s team, they made a couple of changes down the attacking end at half time and dived straight into the third quarter with fire in their bellies and determination to turn the score in their favour. Some swift and accurate triangles in attack were quickly converted to goals, and tight defence blocked Stockton from scoring down their end – Hinckley turn the tide and headed into the fourth quarter four goals ahead. Knowing it was going to be a tight quarter, Hinckley kept the team structure the same and fought to the bitter end. Despite some perfectly timed drives and sharp shooting from player of the match Lucy Marsden, Hinckley A couldn’t stay ahead and so the match ended with a nail biting draw 40-40.
Hinckley C’s played Cherry Bombs A on Tuesday night last week. Hinckley ended the first quarter leading with a score of 11-6, achieved through accurate passes from WA Susan Ley, GA Thea Weaver into GS Lucy Ibbetson. Hinckley successfully utilised WD Ellie Kyriacou and C Beth Swain as backups round the goal third to pass into the circle. The second quarter saw Hinckley continuing to lead with the score of 21-13 at half time. GK Derry O’Neill and GD Emily Moyo were strong in defence, turning over the ball by intercepting opposition passes and using rebounds to work it down the court to goal. The third quarter saw Cherries fighting to bring back their score but Hinckley managed to still lead 26-22, Hinckley adapting as Cherries WD was subbed but working hard to use triangles to goal. Final quarter, all players worked hard to keep hold of the lead but Cherries pulled it back in the end to win 33-30. Player went to C Beth Swain, who showed great determination and movement up and down the court as she made options to create opportunities for the shooters.
Hinckley B faced Leamington E with confidence this week after their last meeting ended with a comfortable Hinckley win. With some key players missing, Hinckley B had Sue Ley and Anna Poulsen fill in at WA and GK. Hinckley fought hard, staying within a couple of goals of Leamington and even finishing a few goals in front in the first half. However, Leamington’s accurate shooters and some missed opportunities from Hinckley meant we ended with a loss 48-53. Player of the match went to Katie Phillips at C for her tireless energy linking the court together.
The Hinckley C team match against Harbury had a rocky start as Harbury took the lead in the first quarter 13-4. However, going into the second quarter the girls applied coaches feedback and worked hard to stay in the game. Leaving the second quarter at 27-12. Hinckley was not going to give up and kept the work rate up with amazing defence work, reading the play and some well-timed interceptions. This, combined with some excellent drives down to goal followed by impressive shooting meant Hinckley was able to add a lot of pressure and kept going to the game. Giving the final score of 57-30 to Harbury.
On Saturday, Hinckley’s D Team played Warwick Alvis D Team, in a morning game, at Hinckley Rugby Club. Alvis unfortunately had to begin the game a player down, and the first quarter ended with Hinckley holding a strong initial lead of 16-8. The second quarter was played with Alvis’s 7th player on court, however, Hinckley fought hard to maintain their lead and at half time Alvis reacted by making some changes in their defensive end. With some tough marking from Alvis’s defence, Hinckley had to dig deep and work hard to maintain their lead through the second half. However, Hinckley defended well and gained lots of interceptions throughout the court, pushing into a further lead, thanks to some great game play in the attacking circle. The game ended with a win for Hinckley scoring 56-33. Well done to Hinckley’s POM Annie Pelchat and thank you to umpires and spectators who supported on the day.
Hinckley E faced top of the table Ernesford E away this Saturday. Hinckley went into this game feeling apprehensive due to previous losses against Ernesfords strong side. Hinckley E fell behind in the first and second quarter ending in 31-6 to Ernesford. Hinckley had good movement throughout the court moving from defence to attack though were challenged by Ernesfords fighting side. However, after a team talk at half time and a switch around in defence Hinckley came back into the game with a fresh outlook. With new goals set and Hinckley ready to meet them they fired through. Achieving 11 more goals in the third quarter. They had some lovely shots and interceptions by both the attackers and defenders finding ways to confuse Ernesford. Hinckley were using this game to enact new plays and try new types of defending and attacking to use in future matches. The final score ended in 61-22 to Ernesford. POM going to Tracey Pallett at GS for her amazing work within the circle.
28th January 2023
Hinckley A took to the court raring to go against a strong Jets side. They began to pull away in the first quarter and kept their lead throughout the match, with many turnovers in defence by Emma Draycott and Bethany Willars and the great accuracy from Holly Hemsley and Lucy Marsden in the shooting circle. With great defence throughout the court by Darcey Arrowsmith, Beth Thurairajah & Jess Rainbow, in the final quarter Hinckley closed the game strongly with a 53-41 win, with player of the match being awarded to GA Lucy Marsden.
Hinckley B played away at Copsewood Diamonds this week. Hinckley made a steady start, pulling into a small lead at quarter time and then pushing on in the second quarter. The defensive end pressed hard forcing the young Copsewood shooters into errors and turnovers, giving the Hinckley attack plenty of opportunities which they converted clinically. Hinckley were winning 22-12 at half time, then continued their pressure in the third quarter conceding few goals and linking up well with strong attacking play. Copsewood rallied in the fourth quarter with their best play of the match, but Hinckley continued fighting hard and the final score saw a Hinckley win by 55-27. Player of the match went to Katie Phillips for her strong play through the court.
Going into to game with 1 less player was always going to be tough but HLNC C started off strong. With help from E team’s Cara Stuckey and Tracey Pallett their first quarter went well, ending 13-12 to Offchurch. Midcourters Beth Swain and Cara were making lovely runs and passing well into the shooting circle, allowing shooters Tracey and Leah Webster to craft some well-timed dodges as they worked hard to get into space to shoot. The second quarter started off well and the defence made it difficult for the opposition to make shots. The defence Derry O’Neill and Emily Moyo worked hard as they were a player down and missing a Wing Defence. They made it tough for the Offchurch attack to score and kept the gap small with their well time interceotions and delay into the attack. Offchurch started to slip away but the score was close with a 6 point lead to Offchurch as the second quarter ended 19-24. In the third quarter HLNC started to feel the absence of a player but remained strong and kept communicating freeing up space to work it down the court to the shooters. In the final quarter HLNC tightened up the defence and managed to get some tips on attack and defence to slow down Offchurchs attack. Beth worked very hard filling in the WD role whilst playing C and it showed as she got the well deserved player of the match. The final score was 56-39 Offchurch, an amazing fight with only 6 players.
Hinckley D team played Earlsdon Highway E team away on Saturday with 6 of their own players and 2 subs from the E’s. Hinckley had a better start in comparison to the last time they played Highway, however due to Highway’s defensive pressure and strong attack, they led the first quarter 15 – 7. In the second quarter, there was a GS & GA switch in hope to create some more space and goals scored, but the whole team really needed some more determination. The second half was really when the D team showed their perseverance and teamwork as they went up by 12 goals, and Highway 14, so extremely close! This was due to many defensive turnovers, pickups and attackers playing the ball up the court and scoring many goals, leaving the third quarter 25 – 46 to Highway. In hope to receive a point, there was a defensive change to give a final push and indeed the D’s powered through and fought for every ball. However, Highway continued their lead up until the end, making the final score 31 – 60, with Annie Pelchat (C) as POM for her amazing interceptions, passes and spacing that she created.
Hinckley E played Stockton at home this week in a fast-paced game. In the first quarter Stockton took the lead with the end of the first quarter being 13-5 to them. After a team talk Hinckley came out fighting in the second quarter with great movement throughout the court from defence down to the attacking and shooting in the circle. Hinckley ended the second quarter still down at 22-16 but carried this play through to the third quarter with some lovely interceptions and great drives ending 28-26. Sadly a few minutes into the final quarter Hinckley GA sustained an injury causing her to have very little movement going forward. She rallied on, dropping to GS but the change in Hinckley’s team allowed Stockton to take the lead with the final score ending 34-39 to Stockton. POM went to Beth Richardson at GD for her strong defensive pressure.
21st January 2023
Hinckley’s As played their second game of the year against Cov Sphinx on a cold frosty Tuesday night. They needed the first quarter to acclimatise to the cold, keeping a close score but were down by 1. In the second quarter, the A’s upped their game but faced another bump in the road when their WD, Nic Cairns, suffered a knee injury. Jess Rainbow quickly filled in and the A team needed to get their head back in the game. Really upping their circle edge defence tactics, confusing the opposition, they made a speedy recovery and fought to get a bigger lead, ending the third quarter by 14. Working together all the way through the court, with the final push the A team won the game, 56-34. Player of the Match going to GD Bethany Willars for her outstanding pressure on defence.
Hinckley B played against Synergy B on a frosty Saturday afternoon. The game started off close with Hinckley’s defence putting the pressure on to Synergy’s shooters. Annis Pears and Anna Clayden’s interceptions in the Synergy attacking circle, allowed Hinckley to turn the ball over and work it down the court for Hinckley shooters Carole Payne and Chloe Phillips to work their magic! The score was tight, making both teams work hard and apply the pressure. The tall Synergy defence added a level of difficulty for Emily Harrison and Katie Phillips to get the ball in to the Hinckley shooters, however with good communication and patience this allowed the shooters to create space and score past the long-armed defence. The score remained close throughout the game, with every goal and turnover counting! In mid court Caron Ogden and Millie Davies were making interceptions and fighting for every ball which allowed Hinckley B to take the lead and win 36-33. Player of the match went to a well-deserved Chloe Phillips at goal attack.
This weekend Hinckley D’s played Warwick Ladies B team in a match that was close throughout. In the last meeting Warwick took the win by only 4 goals so Hinckley knew it was going to be a hard-fought game. The D’s started the first quarter trying to settle in and get a lead in the first 15 minutes of the game and by the end of the quarter time whistle Hinckley were up by 1. In the second quarter the lead extended thanks to many insane takes and turnovers by the defence including Beth Richardson, Hinckley’s well deserved player of the match, who was playing up from the E team. The D’s continued to match this lead into the third quarter thanks to the shooters movement in the D followed by some great shooting. Hinckley D’s Donna Edwards did suffer an injury in this third quarter after a whole match of working her hardest in the D getting some well needed and deserved tips and turnovers that helped the team win. Even with subs coming on and positions being swapped the D’s managed to extend this lead a little more into the final quarter and ended the match with an amazing 3 goal win. Final score 27-24.
14th January 2023
Hinckley B were in for a tough match this week against a well organised Whitnash team. With the heavy rain and strong wind in the first 2 quarters making it difficult for both teams to settle, Hinckley made a change at half time hoping to give them more strength in attack. The defence made it difficult for Whitnash to score, but unfortunately their experience shone through, and they were able to pull away in the last 2 quarters. Hinckley fought until the end but were unable to reduce the distance. The final score was 34-19 to Whitnash, with player of the match going to Caron Ogden and Emily Harrison for some great interceptions throughout the game.
Hinckley C team were playing away for their first game of the new year, against Godiva. The result between these teams, in the first half of the season, was 46-24 to Godiva; so Hinckley knew they needed to be on it from the start. The game started well, Hinckley were applying pressure in defence and the attack were well-timed in getting the ball down court. The 2nd quarter saw Godiva up the pressure, and a few turned-over balls which they converted to goals, meant the gap between the teams increased in Godiva’s favour, ahead by 12 at half-time. Hinckley responded positively though, made a few position switches, and went out with a positive mindset. The attack was standing up against a strong defence, playing patiently, passing the ball round, re-setting if needs be and taking their time to ensure possession became goals. At the other end Godiva attack were under constant pressure from Hinckley defence, with interceptions, tipping rebounds and great leans. Whilst this did slow Godiva’s rate of goals, unfortunately some on-point shooting, meant it was just too hard to keep the goals out of the opponent’s net. First half win went to Godiva, second half win to Hinckley. Final result 37-31 Godiva. POM went to Lucy Ibbetson for her high work rate throughout the game.
Hinckley D faced Stockton away at the weekend. After the previous weeks strong performance they had high hopes to back this up. Hinckley put out a solid performance and clinched a 46-38 win, with WA Maddi Seller awarded POM.
Hinckley E put up a good fight against Ernesford F at the weekend after a heavy defeat against them at the beginning of the season. Play started off evenly with both sides practically matching each other goal for goal. Hinckley played some steady netball with the defence getting many turnovers in the defensive circle. At the other end of court Hinckley’s shooters were receiving some tight physical defence. The lead kept going 1 goal either way at the end of each quarter & at the end of the third quarter Hinckley were winning 28-27. A change to Ernesford’s centre court players gave them the extra energy they needed & they went ahead by a few goals in this last quarter. Despite best efforts from Hinckley they could not reclose the gap & frustratingly lost 32-38. Player of match went to Cara Stuckey at GA.
7th January 2023
Hinckley A were back in action at the weekend following a 6-week break, and they were playing one of the top teams in their division, Earlsdon Highway. Despite the poor weather conditions, Hinckley held their own and put up a good fight against the tough Earlsdon Highway side, starting the second half only trailing by 1 goal. Brilliant through court play and defensive turnovers meant that Hinckley kept the score tight and were only 2 down heading into the final quarter. With short, accurate passes working best to combat the tall Highway defence, Hinckley slipped through their defences and drew the quarter, giving the final score of 33-31 to Highway. Player of the match went to wing defence Jess Rainbow.
After an extended break from netball due to bad weather the B team took to the court against Ambleside D. With Illness and injury amongst team members Hinckley were not a fully fit side and knew they’d have our work cut out. Ambleside played a slightly different team to the first outing against Hinckley B and it was clear from the start that it was going to be a hard fought game. Hinckley played a panicked first quarter and allowed Ambleside to gain a 2 goal lead by quarter time. During the break the team took a breath and came back into the second quarter with a more settled play. With excellent centre court work from Katie Phillips and Emily Harrison taking the ball to the shooting duo of Chloe Phillips and Carole Payne, the B’s managed to make up 1 goal and finished half time 13 – 12 to Ambleside. An injured Katie came off for the second half and this meant a small change needed. Caron Ogden went to Centre and Ellie Kyriacou, from the C team, came on at WD. This change did not effect the team and the persistent pressure from the defence pairing of Anna Clayden and Annis Pears kept the B team within 1 goal at the end of the 3rd quarter. The final quarter saw Hinckley take the lead by 2 goals but Ambleside capitalised on a couple of small errors by Hinckley and the game finished 30 – 28 to the opposition. A hard fought and competitive game with POM being awarded to Emily Harrison.
Hinckley’s division 7 D & E team played against each other this weekend in very wet rainy conditions which made the ball extremely slippery! The D team only had 6 players available & due to illnesses the E had no surplus players to loan but were able to field their team. Despite having 6 players the D team started off confidently, moving the ball around court well & took the lead. The E team slightly off balance having the extra player took a while to settle into their game. By half time the score was 16-13 with the Ds still retaining their 3 goal lead. Both teams circle defenders read the game very well intercepting many passes & turned the ball around to traverse back through centre court to the shooting circle. The D team shooters worked very well together, with Imogen Bantom holding her space well & rarely missing. In the E team goal third they passed the ball around as per coached tips in training, remembering “triangles” but some of these passes were intercepted & with a few missed shots they still remained 3 goals behind at the 3rd quarter. Hinckley’s Es moved up a gear in the last quarter with defence & attacking players fighting for more of the loose balls & in the last minute were just 1 goal behind but with Donna Edwards persistent energy (named play of the match for D team) & a final intercept in centre court resulted in the Ds scoring again who went on to win the match 24-22. The E team POM also playing GD was Beth Richardson. Overall it was a very friendly match played with good sportsmanship just a shame everyone was drenched!!
17th December 2022
The D team had a tough home game this week in the cold against mid table team Ernesford F. In the first quarter Hinckley struggled to gain momentum due to Ernesford’s defensive efforts down the court turning the ball over on numerous occasions meaning Hinckley only managed to score 4 goals to Ernesford’s 16. In the second quarter, thanks to the help of Hinckley’s defensive players, they started to get into their groove scoring 10 goals but this still wasn’t enough to pull away from Ernesford. Going into the second half of the game, there was some lovely balls from Hinckley’s WA and C into the attacking circle which helped Hinckley close the gap on Ernesford. Despite this, Ernesford kept their lead until the end of the game in what was a hard fought game until the final minute. The final score being 37-53 with Tracey Pallett getting POM.
10th December 2022
Hinckley C played Arleys Angels at home last Monday night. Arleys Angels started the game with a quick and direct first centre pass and after Arleys scored a couple of times, Hinckley made their way down the courts with accurate passes, leading Lucy Ibbetson GA and Thea Weaver GS to work together and score. The first and second quarters were quite steady as Hinckley made some great interceptions. However, Arleys Angels were still in the lead with 38:25 at the end of the third quarter. Sue Ley and Beth Swain worked well between them, using quick short passes around the shooting circle, ready for Lucy to get in-front of the GD and pop in another goal. In the final quarter, Hinckley scored 13 goals to Arleys Angels 12 but it was enough to beat them and the game ended 49-37 to Arleys Angels. Player of the Match went to GK Emily Moyo for her long stretches, defending skills and quick movement around the whole defensive third throughout the game.
Hinckley D team played away at Alvis on Saturday with a full team of their own players for the first time in a while. In the first quarter, Hinckley took a few minutes to get into their stride and find their pace. They went on to have a great start to the game, pulling ahead of Alvis to finish the first quarter ahead 10-5. This lead continued throughout thanks to GD Donna Edward’s brilliant lean and turnovers in the defensive end stopping Alvis’s attack from gaining any momentum. The centre court continued to bring the ball up to the shooting end smoothly throughout the game where some excellent long range shots were sunk by both the GA and GS. Hinckley kept their lead thanks to a huge team effort and finished the game 40-29, with a well deserved Player of the Match going to Donna.
3rd December 2022
Hinckley played Ambleside on Monday 28th of November. This is the second time Hinckley have come up against Ambleside, having won the first fixture against them in October. Ambleside showed up having learnt from the first game and gave Hinckley a run for their money, the first quarter saw a 10 all draw. During the second quarter Hinckley pulled away and at the end of the first half saw them ahead at 29-16. Hinckley continued to fight during the second half and as a result of some great defending only managed to concede eight goals in the third quarter. Equally, in the third quarter due to a super shooting duo Hinckley scored an impressive 17 goals. During the fourth and final quarter Hinckley persevered and continued with their accurate on target shooting, seamless passing and faultless defending and ended the game winning 60 goals to 30. POM went to Darcey Arrowsmith due to her precision shooting and sublime teamwork with the attack.
Hinckley B travelled to Coventry & North Warwick for a top of the table clash on Saturday. Despite some line up changes, Hinckley started well, building on strong defence from GK Anna Clayden, GD Millie Davies and WD Caron Ogden and were one goal up at the end of the first quarter. Looking to consolidate their lead, Hinckley continued to work hard through the centre court and into the attacking combination of GS Carole Payne, GA Chloe Phillips and WA Emily Harrison. However, the C&NW defence was strong and able to capitalise on the few rebounds from the Hinckley shooting, turning the ball over and quickly transferring it down the court to their own shooters who were able to convert the majority into goals. A late injury to Hinckley Centre Katie Phillips forced position changes with super sub Cara Stuckey coming on for the last few minutes making a hat trick of games for her during the day. Despite the Hinckley team playing well throughout the game they were unable to hold onto their slim lead, eventually losing 44-37. Player of the match was awarded to Hinckley GK Anna Clayden.
Hinckley C team knew they had a tough game on their hands this weekend, hosting Earlsdon Highway D, who are currently 2nd in the league. Hinckley got off to a promising start, getting the first few goals and taking the lead. However, this wasn’t too last. Hinckley defence worked tirelessly to try and turn to ball over, but with Earlsdon’s shooter being head and shoulders taller, there was little the defence could do against the loopy balls landing straight into the outstretched arms of the shooter. Hinckley continued to battle for the entire match, and were confidently driving the ball down court, creating space and opportunities. Unfortunately, it just didn’t all come together. Final score 45-16 to Earlsdon Highway D, with POM going to Emily Moyo (GD).
Hinckley D’s played Earlsdon Highway E at home. In the first quarter, the opposition lead with a strong attack making it difficult for Hinckley to get the ball to their shooters. During the second quarter, Annie Pelchat (Centre) made numerous interceptions and got many tips and turnovers, which allowed Hinckley to attack the ball up the court. At half time changes were made in attack and defence by Hinckley, in order to put as much pressure on Highway as possible. In the 3rd quarter, Hinckley gained some energy in attempt to draw back the score. Unfortunately, for the remainder of the game Highway continued to turn Hinckley’s balls over and get the shots in. In the end, the score was 10-58 and player deservingly went to Annie as she never lost energy and created a lot of our turnovers.
Last Saturday Hinckley E’s faced Warwick Ladies away from home for the second time this season. Hinckley were slow to get into the game with an unsettled start & Warwick took an early lead. The second quarter was Hinckley’s better quarter, great turnovers and interceptions made by each team & Hinckley fought hard to close the gap with only 3 goals between both teams & play seemed more positive.
Hinckley had good pressure in defence and worked well together in the attacking circle but it was Warwick Ladies who constantly led the game with their strong defence and accurate shooting. Despite all players giving 100% Warwick went on to win with the final score 43-23. Hinckley player of the match going to Bethany Richardson (GD).
This Saturday was a different story. Hinckley E took on Stockton F. With a tough game ahead of them after a heavy defeat at the beginning of the season, the team went in with a positive attitude and lots of energy, coming away from the first quarter 4 goals up. Defence worked hard in the circle to gain possession of rebounds and the team soon found their rhythm to work the ball down court and into the circle. Some changes from Stockton saw the goal difference tighten closer with Hinckley E then falling two goals behind in the second quarter. Determined to come out with a win, the team continued to work hard and some lovely interceptions and great drives from those in the centre court allowed several additional opportunities for the attack to score. The final quarter saw Hinckley gain a 3 goal lead, ending the match with a final score of 38-35 to Hinckley. POM deservedly went to Tracey Pallet for all her hard work in moving the ball down court. Hinckley were delighted with the results incorporating training moves practiced mid week which ultimately paid off.
19th November 2022
Hinckley A played away this week against Godiva A, and knew it was going to be a tough match. The first quarter was goal for goal, with each team scoring off their centre pass, it ended with a draw of 10 all. The second quarter was very similar, but Hinckley managed to pull ahead and finished the first half with a score of 21-18. Hinckley A made the most of their half time team talk, remaining positive and bolstering each other up, they headed into the third quarter with level heads and a fire in their bellies. Some excellently timed drives and well fought for turnovers meant Hinckley pulled ahead to lead into the final quarter with a score of 35-25. A little TLC was required in this quarter break, with various players needing assistance from the first aid kit; for sore calves and various scrapes from contest battles with the opposition. Keeping their cool and hungry for the win, Hinckley smashed out the final quarter, extending their lead by another 7 goals with the help of joint Players of the Match, D’arcey Arrowsmith and Jess Rainbow, whose sharp shooting and tight defensive pressure (respectively) sailed Hinckley through to their 8th win of the season with a score of 48-31.
Hinckley B team faced a strong Rugby side on Saturday. A slight change up of players due to injury meant a slower start for Hinckley but they quickly settled and ensured their winning streak continued. Final score was 37-32, with POM going to Goal Shooter Millie Davies.
Hinckley C’s played Cherry Bombs A. Hinckley quickly gained a lead within the first quarter, making lots of passes into space in order to get to goal. WA Anita King and C Emily Moyo set up around the circle where they worked it in to GA Leah Webster and GS Thea Weaver, ensuring Hinckley ended up leading 14-8 going into the second. The second quarter, GK Millie Davies GD Derry O’Neill working really well getting rebounds, and moving the ball through court with WD Nic Wallace. Half time saw Hinckley make a change in centre court to bring on some fresh legs. Attack were playing well in the third to get goals, Leah worked the ball around the circle and the defence made good interceptions. The finale quarter saw another change in the Centre position with Emily coming back on. Throughout the rest of the match all players continued to work hard, and ensure possession with accurate passes. The final score was 40-33 to Hinckley, who worked well to hold on to the lead and take their first win of the season. POM went to C Emily, who showed great movement up and down the court, creating passes and opportunities for the shooters.
On Saturday Hinckley’s D Team played Warwick Ladies B Team in a morning game at Kingsley Playing Fields. After a quick first quarter and Warwick gaining a 4-point lead, Hinckley’s captain made some changes of players and positions in the break. Hinckley Ds then worked hard to find their rhythm and pulled it back, successfully winning the second quarter and bringing the difference back down to two. Their teamwork and perseverance continued into the second half bringing the score even closer to a difference of only 1 due to their interceptions in defence and brilliant shooting. However, after some changes on court from Warwick ladies, they had a brilliant last quarter and although both teams fought extremely hard, Warwick came away with a win of 38 to 32. Annie Pelchat, who got some lovely interceptions and helped effectively move the ball down the court, was well deserved POM.
Hinckley E played Alvis D away in a very friendly match. Play was even in the first 2 quarters with both teams retaining possession & it was going goal for goal. Overall there was some lovely movement from Hinckley throughout court, from defence down to the attacking circle. At half time Hinckley were drawing 18 all and some changes were made by both teams which changed the dynamic of the game. Alvis ended the 3rd quarter ahead as their defence were restricting Hinckley of scoring opportunities. More changes in the last quarter also found Hinckley running out of energy & Alvis went on to win 37-26. Joint POM went to Hannah Coltman & Beth Richardson in defence.
12th November 2022
The A team started strong against Cov Sphinx, with some tight defence at every point on the court. Attack worked the ball around to ensure perfect positioning for the shooters. By half time, Hinckley were winning by 10. Defence worked tirelessly, picking up every loose ball. In the end Hinckley proved that they could keep the pressure relentlessly. The final score was 61-38, POM Beth Thurairajah. With Hinckley A going 7 for 7 wins this season so far.
Hinckley B went into this week’s match at Leamington E trying to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Hinckley started the game strongly all through the court, pulling out to a 13-5 lead at quarter time. Leamington made some changes to their team positions at the quarter however and fought back to within 3 goals at half time, with Hinckley having had an unsettled 2nd quarter reacting to the new Leamington line up but still holding on to a 21-18 lead. At half time Hinckley regrouped and refocused, keeping safe possession, pressurising Leamington all over the court and forcing interceptions, with the Hinckley shooters putting in some excellent long-range shots, and the defence making the feed into the Leamington circle hard, forcing tips and coming away with more rebounds. Having conceded only 4 goals in the 3rd quarter to pull out to a 32-22 lead, Hinckley pushed on and maintained their focus in the 4th quarter keeping calm in possession, and eventually came away with a 45-28 win to keep their winning record intact. Player of the match went to Millie Davies at WD.
Hinckley C’s played Harbury B at home. Hinckley started with strong accurate passes down the court to the shooters. The end of the first quarter Harbury lead 14-11. At half time Hinckley made a change in defence and attack, Harbury still leading 26-16. Hinckley’s defence stepped up in the third quarter with GK Derry O’Neill making interceptions, GD Leah Webster demonstrating great leans in the opposition’s circle and WD Nicole holding space on turn overs and great timing to receive balls down court. Hinckley’s attack rose to this and ensured accurate centre passes to GA Lucy Ibbetson, and WA Susan Ley driving into excellent space this made for some fast feeds into shooter Thea Weaver. Changes in the third quarter saw Ellie Kyriacou as centre making numerous interceptions and the score was 40-21 going into the fourth. In the fourth quarter Hinckley worked hard in attempt to draw back the score, unfortunately Harbury maintained their lead, and won 53-31. Player went to GA Lucy Ibbetson for her fast dodging in the shooting circle & great shooting.
The D team had their first win this week against mid table team, Stockton F. The defence worked tirelessly to intercept passes and allowed for the ball to be moved swiftly up court into the attacking circle where GS Anna Poulson & GA Polly Coward managed to scored 12 goals in the first quarter leaving Hinckley 7 goals up at the end of the first 15 minutes. In second and third quarter the D team continued to sink lots of shots thanks to the hard work of the defence and brilliant ball movement up the court by Annie Pelchat, the well-deserved Player of the Match. Stockton fought back in the final quarter but with help from the Captain’s positivity, Hinckley’s spirits remained high and they still managed to hold on to win the match by a big margin. Final score 51-29.
Hinckley E played Ernesford F away. A tough game as Hinckley were missing a couple of key defenders & struggled against a very experienced Ernesford GS who missed nothing. Hinckley’s attack also found it hard getting the ball into the shooting circle with particularly physical defenders. Everyone kept trying hard although the team were pretty quiet on court, the final score didn’t reflect the game losing 62-26. POM went to Maddison Seller at WA.
5th November 2022
Hinckley A’s had their toughest game of the season so far against Ernesford in a rearranged mid week game. The torrential rain threw both sides off to start with and it took a while for Hinckley to settle, but eventually they found their rhythm to get the ball down the court. With scrappy play at times, and a strong Ernesford defence to contend with, the half time score was 19-17 to Hinckley. With a bit of a switch around for the second half, Hinckley remained strong to win ball and get the ball down to goal. In the last quarter Hinckley kept their heads up and fought for every ball, and with a couple of last-minute turn overs they got the win! Final score 42-37 with Player of the Match going to Jess Rainbow at WD, who remained positive and defended relentlessly throughout the game.
Hinckley A team also took on a competitive Jets team this week at Rugby school. After a calm and collective first half, the team had to adapt their game due to the ever-changing rainy weather conditions. Jets made a couple of changes at half time in an attempt to unsettle the Hinckley team, yet this did not affect the strong and composed Hinckley squad, who stuck to their game plan throughout. However, some incredible intercepts by the defensive duo Beth Willars and Lucy Marsden allowed play to be moved down court to the shooters. Accurate shooting by Holly Hemsley and D’arcey Arrowsmith allowed Hinckley to run away with their sixth consecutive win this season. Player of the Match was awarded to D’arcey Arrowsmith.
Hinckley C team faced Offchurch at home this weekend. The first quarter started off tough with Offchurch dominating and the quarter ended 4-13. In the second quarter Offchurch went in with a 9-goal lead but HLNC C team started to gel together and found their rhythm, closing down the gap. The shooters were on point, centre court were making good moves and creating space and the defence were strong and the quarter ended with a 10-goal lead to the opposition despite the strong performance from HLNC C. The third quarter started strong and finished strong, both teams fighting for a win. Thea Weaver and Leah Webster worked together well and shooting was very good and for the rare few that didn’t go in they got the rebounds and scored. The middle court made space and worked the ball down to the attack with Ellie Kyriacou making good runs, Sue Ley always being in space and Nic Wallace communicating well with the team. Defenders Millie Davies and Emily Moyo made it hard for any goals to go in and were working well in the defence circle, ensuring Emily’s well-deserved award of Player of Match. All this ensured that Hinckley were able to close the gap with the third quarter finishing with a 5-goal difference 23-28. The end quarter was well played with many interceptions, amazing shooting and beautiful passes. In the end the C team just fell short with a 6-goal difference 29-35 to Offchurch. With the lovely support from the sidelines and the great team effort it was a fantastic match and another day of beautiful netball.
Division 7’s local Derby had Hinckleys D & E team play each other in a night match. Both needing their first win so stakes were high. Hinckley E started off well and were more settled with play flowing steadily down court. Defence put lots of pressure onto the young D team shooters & along with the windy conditions made it difficult to score many goals. The 1st & 2nd quarters were both quite low scoring for both teams and at half time it was 13 – 5 in the E teams favour. Hinckley E made changes in their attack & defence for the rest of the game for injury issues & the D team were more settled in the 3rd quarter winning the quarter by 1 goal. However, despite the Ds improved confidence they could not do enough to close the gap & the E team went on to win 25 – 17. Player of the Match went to Cara Stuckey for the E team & Donna Edwards for the D team. Overall, a very friendly match with both teams improving on their movement around the court as the game went on.
15th October 2022
Hinckley A were playing at home again this weekend against Copsewood Diamond C. The first few minutes of the match saw Hinckley and Copsewood going goal for goal and equalising after each centre pass. Hard work from Hinckley’s defence and strong shooting saw them take a 2-goal lead in the first half, finishing ahead with a score of 27-25. An epic third quarter helped Hinckley seal their 4th win of the season, scoring 17 goals and only letting 4 slip through against them. They headed into the final quarter with a strong lead which Copsewood just couldn’t catch up with. Final score of the match was 57-44 and Player of the Match went to goal shooter Holly Hemsley for her strong hold in the circle, excellently timed drives and accurate shooting.
The B team travelled to Synergy B with a positive attitude to keep their undefeated record in tact. From the start it was apparent that Hinckley needed to slow their game as a few unforced errors were made by the attack bringing the ball down the court too fast. Hinckley led 11-7 after the first quarter, mainly due to the great job GK, Annis Pears and GD Anna Clayden had done in the defensive circle, keeping the GS away from the post and forcing the young GA to shoot from distance. The second quarter saw a more patient game from Centre Court players, WD Caron Ogden, C Katie Phillips and the nippy WA Emily Harrison, finding space and more accurate passes. Hinckley kept the 4 goal lead at half time. The Hinckley shooters were having a tough time with a very tall, experienced GK dominating their circle. But they kept their heads and the dummy shot from GS Caole Payne started to pay off. Leading 28-22 after the third quarter. A change was needed for the final 15 minutes as GA Chloe Phillips had given her all with her great drives to goal. A shuffle around of the centre court saw Millie Davies come on at WD to provide some fresh legs and some vital interceptions to keep Hinckley with a 6 goal lead at the final whistle. Taking the final score to 36-30 to Hinckley and going into the half term break without dropping a point. PoM went to Katie Phillips C/WA for her dynamic drives and accurate feeds.
Saturdays match for Hinckley C was against a fiery Ernesford side who had just faced a one goal loss the week before. The C team worked hard on Saturday afternoon, making some great plays in attack and building across the game in the defence end to force some crucial turnover balls. Unfortunately, a tough Ernesford defence made it difficult for Hinckley to keep the much-needed flow through the court and Ernesford took a decisive lead in the first half the game. Despite some awesome defence play from Donna Edwards (subbing up from the D team) and Emily Moyo (player of the match) it wasn’t enough to bring back the comfortable lead Ernesford had built. The game ended with a 22-42 loss to Hinckley.
On Saturday 15th October, Hinckley D team took on Ernesford E at home. With players missing, some players had to quickly get used to playing in positions they were not used to. For the first quarter they closely matched Ernesford. With Annie Pelchat creating some lovely passes into the shooting circle and some great tips in defence from Zoe King. Hinckley’s midcourt took their opportunities to transition any turnover ball straight to their shooters, with Hinckley welcoming back Imogen Banton to the court this week. The second quarter started with Ernesford taking an early lead. They were physical and dominated this quarter. Hinckley’s lack of play together as a team really began to show, goals weren’t converted and mistakes began to creep in. Positive changes were made for the third quarter and they began to relax into their style of game a little more. Evie Smith worked incredibly hard in defence winning many interceptions and enabling her to be recognised by our opponents as player of the match. Thanks to an uplift of positivity from our fellow Hinckley Ladies supporters and their motivational words, the team went into the last quarter with a desire to win that round. Hinckley may have lost the game overall 49-36 but the last quarter was won 15-10, with lots of learning to take into the next game after the half term break.
Hinckley E were looking forward to playing Warwick ladies B team after playing them in a friendly match, prior to season starting, as they were quite evenly matched. Unfortunately, on Saturday morning one of Hinckley’s defence was ill & too short notice for the team to get a replacement so Hinckley had to play the game with just 7players. Hinckley’s Jo Rawle stepped up to play out of position at GK, and despite the height difference did manage to keep the GS under pressure but Warwick were able to get ahead by 7 goals in the first quarter. In the defence end Hinckley, outnumbered, worked tirelessly, moving the ball around and down to the attack when they were able to get some turnovers. In attack with more passes being made Hinckley were more efficient. In the second quarter there was just a 4 goal difference in the quarter score with Hinckley E also able to keep the third quarter score to just 3 goals difference. Sadly, two minutes into the last quarter Hinckley’s GA Cara Stuckey injured her calf & discussions were made about abandoning the game. But Cara determined to continue & after a few minutes care swapped to GS for the rest of the game. After 45 minutes of playing with only 6 players Hinckley E were pretty zapped of energy and this allowed Warwick to pull ahead from their already developed lead and they went on to win 52-27. Hinckley were pleased to at least get a point from the game & pom went to Tracey Pallett at C for her continued energy.
8th October 2022
Hinckley A took to the courts again on Saturday, at home against Ambleside. They had a strong start and took the lead within the first quarter, finishing 13-6. A few position changes for the second and third quarter only strengthened their game and left Hinckley with a comfortable lead heading into the final quarter of 42-25. Great defensive play all across the court, and pinpoint accurate shooting from player of the match Lucy Marsden carried the team to their third win of the season with a 56-39 final score.
Huge thank you to Hinckley B player Annis Pears and Hinckley C player Susan Ley for subbing up and filling in last minute. A strong start to the season for Hinckley A, with 3/3 wins under their belts, they’re excited to see how the rest of the season will play out.
The B’s travelled away to face an unbeaten and newly promoted Whitnash this week. The B’s knew they were up for a challenge, but prepared well at training trialling new but needed combos with a few members of the team sunning themselves on holiday! After majority of the warmup was taken up by rearranging the nets and moving courts (!) the game finally got under way. Hinckley had a strong start and were 10-8 up after 15 minutes. In to the second quarter, the B’s continued their hard work all over court, putting in to practice what was discussed at the quarter break. At half time the B’s were ahead by 1. The second half saw a couple of changes, with Annis Pears and Anna Clayden switching to GD and GK respectively, and Emily Harrison and Chloe Phillips making a switch to GA and WA. Hinckley pushed on, creating opportunities in attack and turning over the ball in defence. After the third quarter the score remained in Hinckley’s favour 31-29. For the final 15 minutes the B’s found another gear and increased the gap to 10 goals. The score finished 45-35 with a deserved player of the match going to Emily and Hinckley B remaining unbeaten.
Saturdays match for Hinckley C was against an undefeated Godiva B side. Despite some strong drives through the court and great teamwork it wasn’t enough to close a significant gap which had developed after a slow start from Hinckley in the first quarter. The game ended with a 24-46 loss to Hinckley. Congratulations to Leah who got player of the match, she showed amazing versatility playing both GA and GD.
A tough game for Hinckley’s E team who played Earsldon Highway E in their 3rd match of the season. Earlsdon were a strong team throughout conceding just 3 goals from Hinckley and scoring 15 in the first quarter. Positivity from Hinckley ensured they played with a good team spirit despite having pauses in play due to team injuries. Final score was a 17-44 loss to Hinckley. A well-deserved POM for Hannah Coltman who played a consistently strong GD.
1st October 2022
Hinckley A played their first away game of the season at the weekend vs Earlsdon Highway. They got off to a strong start in the first quarter, taking the lead early with clinical play across the court and sinking those all-important goals. Emma Draycott and Beth Willars were a formidable duo in the defensive circle, turning over feeds in from the opposition and winning possession on the rebounds. Hinckley extended their lead during the second quarter, finishing at half time with a score of 27-15. Mid court players Jess Rainbow, Beth Thurairajah, and D’arcey Arrowsmith dominated the centre third, reliably bringing the ball down with great passing precision and fast drives. Player of the match Holly Hemsley and her shooting partner Lucy Marsden worked hard in the shooting circle, battling against the oppositions tough defence, and sinking those important shots. A tactical change in attack for the final quarter helped Hinckley maintain their lead and finish with a win of 46-29.
The B team got off to a flying start against Ambleside this weekend with excellent attacking play from Emily Harrison, Chloe Phillips and Carole Payne. The defending partnership of Anna Clayden and Annis Pears kept the Ambleside shooters from scoring for a lengthy period in the first quarter and Hinckley went into the 1st break with a 7-2 lead. A change in the defence left Hinckley confused for the first five minutes of the second half and this allowed Ambleside to pull back some goals. Hinckley pulled it together though to keep the lead and went into half time 18-12. Taking an injured Chloe out of attack, again left Hinckley in a bit of a tizz for a few minutes but they quickly got back into their stride with Caron Ogden moving into centre and bringing a calming influence into the game. With Carole and Emily popping the goals in and the continuing defensive pressure, Hinckley ensured their second win on the trot, 42-25.
Hinckley C started their first away game of the season on a high. Quick, direct, first time balls worked itself down the court to get them off with a great lead to start. Unfortunately, half way through the first quarter Hinckley went down with a knee injury. Polly Coward from the D team gladly stood up to the job and after a quick swap around, they were straight back into the game. Stockton were extremely determined throughout, and kept pushing which shortly left Hinckley falling behind. Hinckley had some amazing rebounds in the circle, catching in every missed shot from Stockton, and brought the ball back down the court with great enthusiasm. Attack functioned amazingly together, working around the circle to get closer to the post, determined to get those shots in. Despite an amazing effort, Hinckley C lost to Stockton 36-22.
Hinckley D played a fairly even game against Alvis D. A tight first quarter ended with Alvis etching slightly into the lead with a score of 8-10. Hinckley started to gel together in the second quarter with some accurate feeds into attacking circle and brilliant turnovers from player of the match Polly Coward, giving Hinckley a two-point lead at half time. Hinckley’s lead was taken away in the last quarter and despite their best efforts in both attack and defence, Alvis came out on top at full time. The final score being 35-38.
Hinckley E’s faced another tough game against Ernesford E for their second match of the season. Strong defensive pressure from the opposition saw Hinckley’s attack struggle to keep the ball in the circle, allowing Ernesford to take an early lead. The game came to a halt after a spectacular collision between Hinckleys GA & Ernesfords GD that resulted in the goal post being broken, Commonwealth Games style!! Hinckley E’s kept their composure on court and pressure from their defence saw many intercepts and overturned balls but they could not do enough to capitalise on them. The final score was 45-17 with Hinckley’s player of the match going to Hannah Coltman in defence.
24th September 2022
Hinckley A got their season off to a flying start with an exciting home game against a tough Stockton side. They flew through the first quarter, with some very fast paced play and great defensive turnovers. A few erratic bursts lead to the team agreeing to slow things down during the quarter time team talk, and this lead to Hinckley dominating the rest of the match. Playing their own game, making countless turnovers, and sharp shooting meant that Hinckley finished with a win of 50-36. Player of the match went to D’arcey Arrowsmith, for her accurate shooting and remaining composed and in control despite some tough defensive pressure.
Hinckley B started off their season with a close 39-35 win over Stockton C. Hinckley started tentatively with some unfamiliar partnerships in their new line up and went down a couple of goals early on but brought the score line back to only trail by 18 goals to 19 at half time. Some tight defence from Annis Pears and Anna Clayden built the foundation of Hinckley’s recovery. The centre court of Millie Davies, Caron Ogden and Katie Phillips began to work together more collectively, bringing the ball through to their shooters. Carole Payne and Chloe Phillips maintained their composure to continue to keep the Hinckley score ticking over. Player of the match was awarded to Wing Attack Katie Phillips.
Hinckley C’s first match of the season was against a strong Arleys Angels side. Unfortunately, they took a 33-46 loss but after a slow start were able to continuously close the gap each quarter and kept the energy high throughout. They worked together as a team bringing the ball down the court and knowing where people would be. A very well-deserved player of the match going to Derry O’Neill who always kept the pressure on the goal attack and took some amazing interceptions and rebounds.
A new look D team faced a strong and confident Earlsdon Highway away for their first game of the season. With new combinations all across the court it took Hinckley D some time to settle into the game, this left the door open for Earlsdon Highway to take a substantial lead that Hinckley struggled to claw back despite making improvements throughout the game. Final score was a 19-63 loss, with player of the match going to Annie Pelchat.
Hinckley E had a tough game to start the season against Stockton F, with unfortunately several of their new squad unavailable. Stockton’s tight defence made it difficult for Hinckley’s attack to get the ball into the circle & score many goals. Hinckley’s defence were tested with players out of position, but they continued to intercept many balls & as a team all worked together well. Final score was 11-44 to Stockton with Hinckley’s player of match Tracey Pallett.