7th October 2023
Hinckley A vs Rugby Ladies A
Final score – WIN 47-40
Hinckley A got their season off to a triumphant start, winning 47-40 against Rugby Ladies A. They needed the first quarter to find their feet and settle into the groove, ending the quarter down by 3. Despite this and an injury half-way through the second quarter, Hinckley A didn’t let it knock their confidence or their game plan and came back strong, leading 38-29 by the third quarter. It was a tiring game for a particularly sunny day in October, but everybody kept going and pushed through to the end, finishing the game with a fantastic win. Player of the match went to Beth Thurairajah who turned over several balls after making some incredible interceptions.
Hinckley B vs Alvis B
Final score – WIN 41-26
After a shaky start, Hinckley B made a great come back to win their first game of the season against Alvis B. With several new on court combinations, Hinckley B took a bit of time to settle into the game and their defence were on the wrong side of several umpiring decisions in the first quarter which ended 5 goals down after 15 minutes. The start of the second quarter brought some more composed play and Hinckley B started to chip away at the Alvis lead. An unfortunate injury to the Hinckley’s goal shooter caused an unexpected reshuffle to the team on court, however the squad showed their versatility, quickly settling back in and overhauling the deficit, finishing the second quarter 22-16 ahead. In the second half of the game Hinckley B continued to consolidate and extend their lead, finishing the game strongly. The final score was 41-26 with player of the match awarded to Emily Harrison as goal attack for her brilliant drives and accurate shooting.
Hinckley C vs Ernesford D
Final score – LOSS 23-49
Hinckley C’s first match of the season was against a strong and experienced Ernesford side. Unfortunately, they took a loss with the final score being 23-49. Despite the score, they showed some great teamwork throughout the match, bringing the ball down court and making some fantastic interceptions and passages. A very well-deserved player of the match went to Chloe Phillips who worked brilliantly in attack to open the space in the circle against some tough defenders.
Hinckley D vs Ernesford G
Final score – LOSS 17-34
Hinckley’s new D team had just enough from their squad of 12 to take to courts, facing a strong and confident Ernesford G with 7 players. From the start it was clear that it was going to be a competitive match with the Ernesford defence making it difficult for the D teams attack to get the ball into the circle, ending the first quarter behind 10-3. Defensively Hinckley D’s picked up momentum going forward & worked hard to intercept many balls after getting several tips & rebounds in the circle, resulting in Ernesford not being able to score too many goals. A switch at half time in positions for GS & GA made a difference for the attack, creating more space on court. Unfortunately, with confidence a little low & a few missed opportunities the team finished the game with a loss but were able to take away a point for scoring within half. The final score was 34-17 with player of the match going deservedly to Amber Nixon as goal keeper.
9th October 2023
Hinckley A vs Leamington B
Final score – LOSS 51-55
Hinckley A travelled to Leamington’s courts on a weekday evening for a game against Leamington’s B team. The first quarter of the match was well contested between both sides, with accurate shooting and fast through court play. It took Hinckley a couple of minutes to find their own rhythm, which allowed Leamington to pull ahead by the end of the first quarter by 6 goals. Heading into the second quarter, Hinckley’s defence had a new strategy to try, and the hard work put in by all players defensively across the court meant that Hinckley turned over possession and clawed back the difference, finishing the quarter 28-28. The second half continued to be well contested and tight, with goals being converted off every centre pass by both teams. Quick, controlled feeds into attack delivered perfectly by player of the match Molly Savage helped Hinckley A hold their own against their tough opposition and they only lost out on the win by 4-goals. Final score: 55-51. Hinckley A were particularly thrilled with the result as it was only their second match in division 1, and they held their own against the tough Leamington side who were playing in the Prem division last season. The umpires complimented both sides after the match, stating that it was a great game to officiate and excellent netball to witness.
21st October 2023
Hinckley A vs Stockton A
Final score – LOSS 39-50
Hinckley A travelled to Stockton to play their A team last week. Both teams came out fighting in the first half keeping a tight, close game. Hinckley’s attack worked patiently to get the ball around the strong and tall defence and at half time Hinckley were down by just 4 goals. Determined and relentless, the second half of the game saw defence work hard to shut down the oppositions attack and bring the ball down the court. However, Stockton were able to find their way to goal and ended up taking the win. Final score was 39-50 with player of the match going to Jess Rainbow as wing defence.
Hinckley B vs Whitnash Warriors
Final score WIN 47- 31
Hinckley B were at home for their game and faced Whitnash Warriors. With their usual goal shooter Carole Payne out on injury and other attacking player Emily Harrison unable to play, they welcomed Thea Weaver to join from the C team to support in the shooting circle. The first quarter of the game got off to a positive start for Hinckley, with some great play on court by all the team. Defence were on fine form together, offering formidable cover and pressure for the oppositions shooters and having worked hard, Hinckley finished the first quarter 11-6 up. The positivity continued and with some fantastic passes into the circle and accurate shooting, Hinckley B’s finished 24-12 at half time. Into the second half of the game, attack continued to work the ball down court, cutting in to receive passes and widening the space to ensure good control, finishing the third quarter ahead by 18 goals. Maintaining the lead, Hinckley B’s came away victorious finishing the game, 47-31. Player of the match went to both Cara Stuckey and Thea Weaver for their excellent shooting and teamwork.
Hinckley C vs Cherry Bombs A
Final score – LOSS 23-40
This week, the C team were away against Cherry Bombs for their third fixture of the season. In what was anticipated to be a tough game with the opposition having won all of their fixture so far, Hinckley had a slow start and struggled to get the ball into the circle for the shooters, Chloe Phillips & Thea Weaver. Down by 9 goals in the opening minutes of the match, Hinckley started to pick up their game and the goals subsequently followed. There was some great pressure from defence with Anna Poulsen and Abi England gaining lots of rebounds in the circle and super sub Amber Nixon making several interceptions to move the ball down court. However, Hinckley C’s did not come out on top with the final score being 42 -18. Despite the score, Hinckley really started to gel on court and there some fantastic passages of play throughout the game. Player of the match went to Erin Twigger for her constant pressure as centre both in attack and defence.
Hinckley D vs Cov&NW E
Final score – LOSS 38-43
Hinckley D faced Coventry & North Warwickshire E team, making good use of their 9 players who were available. Play was quite even in the first quarter with both sides making full use of the court and the ball flowing up & down between the posts. Despite a great start, Hinckley D’s finished the quarter 3 goals down, making changes at each quarter to utilise all players. In defence Amber Nixon and Hannah Coltman had a tough game against an exceptional goal shooter but they remained constantly on their toes to try and put the pressure on. From defence through centre court the ball came down court well with some great feeds going into the circle. A change around in the attacking circle in the third quarter worked in Hinckley’s favour as they started to close the 7-goal gap that had opened, bringing it back to 29-33. The last quarter went goal for goal with some tussles between Hinckley’s goal shooter, Jen Lar and the oppositions goalkeeper and despite a fantastic effort from everyone on court including several tips and rebounds in defence, Hinckley were unable to close the gap. The final score was 38-43 with Hinckley managing to remain within 5 goals to take 2 points away from the game. Player of the match went to Beth Richardson.
11th November 2023
Hinckley A vs Offchurch A
Final score – LOSS 44-60
Hinckley A hosted an unbeaten Offchurch A with a closely fought game. Hinckley came out fighting and with patient play, they took the lead for the first half. Despite a tight defence, Hinckley attack were able to work the ball comfortably to goal. Defence worked hard against a strong Offchurch attack, turning over ball and bringing it through court. Despite the efforts of the whole team, Offchurch were able to turn over ball and convert, resulting in a 44-60 loss. Darcey Arrowsmith was given player of the match for her smart game play as goal shooter.
Hinckley B vs Alec High
Final score – LOSS 32-62
Hinckley B played their away fixture against a tough Alec High team. With a few players missing, Hinckley had a tough first quarter against the experienced opposition players, falling behind 19-6. Centre passes were strong from both sides, but Hinckley struggled to keep possession at times when getting the ball to goal. However, Hinckley worked hard to change their tactics in the second half of the game and became more confident in their play, overturning Alec’s centre passes having found their rhythm to win the final quarter. Final score was 62-32 to Alec High, with player of the match deservingly going to Annis Pears as goal keeper for her consistent interceptions and tight marking in the circle.
Hinckley C vs Cov&NW D
Final score – LOSS 25-39
This week Hinckley C faced Coventry & North Warwickshire’s D team at home. Hinckley made a strong start in the first quarter, going into the first break even. Both teams continued to push going into the second quarter with some great netball on display. However, the opposition took the lead and went into half time leading 20-12. Attack stayed strong on both teams, with Hinckley’s shooters rewarding the many turnovers in defence with their accurate shooting. Despite the opposition continuing to pull ahead in the final half, the C team continued to work hard throughout and played their best netball of the season so far. Coventry & North Warwickshire finished the game on top with the final score being 39-25. Player of the match went to Chloe Phillips at goal attack.
Hinckley D vs Stockton F
Final score – LOSS 29-36
Hinckley D were away at Stockton, playing their F team. The first quarter was positive for Hinckley Ds who kept the game even, ending the first quarter one goal up 10-9. A change around in the second and third quarter saw Hinckley struggle to keep their lead. Hinckley’s defence continued to put the pressure on Stockton’s attack with some greats intercepts and tips, but Hinckley missed a few key opportunities, ending the third quarter 29-19. The entire team pulled together in the final quarter and managed to reduce the score gap by working the ball better around the circle followed by some great shooting from the goal attack and shooter. However, the D team couldn’t quite close the gap and ended the game with a loss of 36-29. Player of the match went to goal keeper, Amber Nixon for her impressive defence and tips in the circle.
25th November
Hinckley A vs Earlsdon Highway B
Final score – LOSS 38-47
Hinckley A travelled to Warwick University on Saturday to play Earlsdon Highway’s B team. Hinckley A being newly promoted to division 1 this season had never faced the Highway side who played their netball in the premier division last season, so they knew it was going to be a tough encounter. The first quarter started strong with the ball going from end to end and both teams going goal for goal. The quarter ended with Highway gaining a slender lead of just 2 goals. The second quarter saw much of the same and defensive pressure across all of the court and accurate shooting meant the first half of the game ended with Highway just 1 goal ahead. The third quarter proved difficult for Hinckley and the Highway side pulled away and increased the goal difference between the two teams. However, Hinckley showed great resilience and fight in the final quarter with captain and player of the match Beth Thurairajah leading by example with defensive pressure and tips around the oppositions shooting circle. Defensive intercepts and quick transfer of the ball from defence to attack down the court, which was a collective effort from the whole team, saw Hinckley draw the final quarter. The match ended in a 47-39 defeat; however Hinckley feel positive about a close first half against a strong opposition and will learn valuable lessons from this encounter. They look forward to facing the Highway side again in the second half of the season and improving upon Saturday’s performance.
Hinckley B vs Ambleside D
Final score – WIN 51-24
Hinckley B played local rivals Ambleside D and with several key players missing in their centre court, Hinckley knew they needed to be patient with each other. However, they soon found their feet and pushed to an early lead. Emma Draycott and Lucy Chapman were a formidable pairing in defence, restricting the young Ambleside shooters tally to just 4 goals after the first quarter. The rest of the team also settled into the game well with centre court flowing smoothly from Annis Pears at wing defence through to Caron Ogden at centre who steadied the play to feed the ball to the energetic Emily Harrison at WA who made some dynamic drives down court, opening up the space, and feeding some fantastic balls into the shooters to sink the goals. Hinckley B were leading 25-11 at half time and decided to make a change in the third quarter, bringing on Erin Twigger from the C team at wing defence who fitted into the team really well. Hinckley really pushed on and went into the last quarter leading 40 – 16. The shooting duo of Cara Stuckey at goal attack and Carole Payne at goal shooter worked incredibly well and the game finished off with a win for the B team, 51-24. Player of the match went to Carole Payne who’s shooting was on fire in the circle.
Hinckley C vs Harbury B
Final score – LOSS 28-60
Hinckley C faced the highly experienced Harbury last week. Going into the first quarter, they struggled to settle and went into the break knowing changes needed to be made. The team came out in the second quarter more settled and managed to find their flow and got a lot more goals on the score sheet. Going into the second half of the game, the C’s made more changes at half time and finally found the team that would give Harbury a well fought game. Unfortunately, the gap was too great, and Hinckley were unable to bring the score back. The final score was 60-28 and player of the match went to Erin Twigger for her great work in the defensive circle.
Hinckley D vs Bedworth A
Final score – WIN 26-24
Hinckley D played at home against Bedworth A in a low scoring but intense game. There was a lot of defensive pressure at both ends of the court and the first quarter ended neck and neck at 5-5. Hinckley made one change going into the second quarter and started strong gaining a few turnovers down the defensive end. With the mid-court working well and transitions down to the shooting end going smoothly, Hinckley managed to open a small gap at half time of 11-9. The team entered the second half of the game with the same team which worked well to keep the momentum going. In the third quarter the attacking end really found their feet and with some brilliant feeds and accurate shooting both long and short range, Hinckley managed to push their lead at the end of the third quarter to 20-14. In the final quarter Bedworth came out fighting and Hinckley were put to the test at both ends of the court facing a wall of defence and pinpoint shooting. Despite Bedworth closing the gap, Hinckley D’s held strong, and the game finished at 26-24 – their first win of the season against a team that hadn’t yet lost a game yet! Player of the match went to Emily Moyo for her excellent defensive pressure and multiple tips and intercepts throughout the game.
2nd December
Hinckley A vs Leamington C
Final score – LOSS 50-52
Hinckley A faced off against Leamington C at home on a frosty Saturday afternoon. The game started steady however, despite some lovely feeds from our attacking end and precise shooting, the first quarter ended in a 12-11 lead to Leamington. The second quarter was close but the defensive pressure applied by Leamington saw them turn over ball and take to goal, giving them a 4 goal lead heading into half time. Heading into the second half of the game, the momentum started to swing in favour of Leamington who capitalised on Hinckley’s unforced errors and pulled ahead, entering the final quarter 41-36 to Leamington. Hinckley came out fighting in the final quarter and with some key interceptions and turnovers from our mid court players including Beth Thurairajah and Molly Savage, Hinckley managed to close the 5 goal gap to 49-49 with just a few minutes left. Despite a spirited fight back, Hinckley fell just short, succumbing to a narrow defeat by 2 goals. The final score was 50-52 with player of the match going to Beth Thurairahjah as centre.
Hinckley C vs Arleys Angels
Final score – LOSS 36-64
Hinckley C faced an experienced Arley’s Angels for their match. Unfortunately, the opposition were able to take an early lead, causing both attack and defence to work even harder in the second half of the game to bring the score back. After some great turnovers, Hinckley were able to settle into the game a bit more and worked hard to bring the ball from defence to attack with ease. The game saw some fantastic intercepts and team work but despite a stellar effort, the gap was just too wide to bring back and Hinckley’s took a loss of 64-36. Player of the match went to Polly Coward who played exceptionally well with some great feeds into the circle.
Hinckley D vs Warwick Ladies B
Final score – LOSS 30-31
Hinckley D met Warwick Ladies B in a gripping Netball encounter on away turf and in sub-zero conditions! Despite the cold weather, both teams showed excellent dedication in a closely contested match! The game started with a plethora of turnovers on both sides, meaning the first goal wasn’t scored until 6 minutes into the quarter. After 9 minutes the score was 2-1 to Hinckley. Dominating the latter part of the first quarter, Warwick B changed their pace and it finished 2-7 with the opposition taking the lead. However, Hinckley D rallied in the second quarter, showcasing a resurgence in their attacking strategies, scoring a further 9 goals, and displaying determination and teamwork. As the match progressed into the third quarter, both teams exhibited exceptional skill and agility. Hinckley with their squad of 9 utilised all players each quarter making changes which did not affect the play but enhanced their strength. They continued their upward momentum, with some stunning defensive tips and turnovers! This allowed attack to capitalise on our well fought possession and narrow the gap to just 5 goals behind at 20-25 at the end of the third quarter. In the last quarter, Hinckley D staged a remarkable comeback! It became the highest scoring quarter of the game for Hinckley D with 10 goals and the lowest scoring quarter for the opponents. Disrupting Warwick B’s flow, Hinckley Ds attack was patient, and shooters sank shots with increased confidence. Mid court showed exceptional stamina in both defensive and attacking moments, making every tip and pass count. However, Warwick B managed to cling onto their slender lead with the game finishing 30-31. Both sides exhibited commendable sportsmanship and skill, making it a great watch for the supporters! Player of the match deservedly went to Isla Gilby as goal attack.
9th December
Hinckley B vs Leamington E
Final score – WIN 42-35
Hinckley B travelled to Leamington to face their E team this week. Having been unable to play last week due to a postponement, the team were feeling slightly rusty ahead of their match. The first half of the game was tight, and both ends applied the pressure, ending with Hinckley just one goal up at half time, 20-19. Hinckley knew they would have to dig deep to get another win under their belt and came out fighting. Centre court made up of Katie Phillips and Sue Ley worked hard to bring the ball down court, remaining patient and focused when feeding the ball into the circle. The attacking end stood strong against a formidable defence, beginning to find their rhythm when drawing out the defenders to create some lovely space to drive into to get more goals on the score sheet. The momentum started to shift in Hinckley’s favour in the third quarter and our strong defence saw lots of turn over balls that were patiently worked to goal, allowing Hinckley to go up by 5 goals, ending the quarter 31-26. Heading into the final quarter, the whole team worked hard to maintain their lead, and some key interceptions and turnovers from midcourt players including Caron Ogden and player of the match, Annis Pears meant Hinckley secured another win. The final score was 42-35 meaning Hinckley B’s stay second in the table before the second half of the season.
Hinckley C vs Synergy C
Final score – WIN 40-26
Hinckley C played Synergy C last week and were hungry to get a win on their sheet. Hinckley took an early lead in the first quarter after a strong start full of positive encouragement and great teamwork, particularly down in the attacking circle. Hinckley’s momentum continued and the second quarter saw some amazing defensive work, allowing the attackers more opportunities to continue the lead, sitting comfortably at half time 8 goals up, 22-14. With consistent attacking, patient play down the court and great pressure in defence, Hinckley ended the third quarter still in the lead with the score being 31-21. The final quarter saw the team pull away with defence determined to go for every interception and great speed from the attacking players when getting the ball to goal. Hinckley finished with a great score of 40-26 and celebrated their first win of the season. Player of the match went to both Anna Poulsen at goal keeper and Erin Twigger at wing defence for their hard work throughout the match.
Hinckley D vs Ambleside E
Final score – LOSS 17-30
Hinckley D played Ambleside E away last week. Play started pretty even with both teams matching each other goal for goal and with two low scoring quarters, Hinckley just had the edge & went ahead at half time finishing 13-12. Ambleside made changes for the second half of the game and bought on a very tall and strong goal keeper & goal shooter for the remaining quarters. This, along with the windy conditions made it very difficult for Hinckley’s attack to continue their run of play. Ambleside then took the lead & scored 8 goals to Hinckley’s 1. Despite this, Hinckley continued to work hard and benefitted from several turnovers from a very tight defence. However, even with a couple of changes to the midcourt team, they could not turn it back round & finished behind 17-30. Player of the match went to Isla Gilby at goal attack.
(Friendly) Hinckley E vs Desford
Final score – WIN 29-17
Hinckley E had their second friendly of the season last Tuesday, against a team from Desford Netball Club. After a thorough warm up (needed in last week’s freezing temperatures) the E team took to the court and got stuck in. With steady play and great communication, Hinckley E crept ahead of Desford and finished the quarter 10-7 up. Despite excellent communication from Hinckley E during the second quarter, there was a few unforced errors which meant Desford were able to keep the gap close and draw that quarter, with both sides scoring 4 goals each. After a quick half time team talk, Hinckley got back out there with renewed energy and dominated the third quarter. Tight defence from Ellaine Ncube and Shauna Tew in the goal circle kept Desford’s goal conversion low and provided ample opportunities for Hinckley’s shooters, Alana Suart and Ann-Marie Copple, to secure those crucial goals. Mid court players Latasha Powell, Sophia Dziuba, and Isla Gilby maintained possession through court with accurate passes and efficient drives from defence to attack, finishing the third quarter with a score of 24-12 to Hinckley. It was a large gap for Desford to make up in the final quarter of the game, but they fought hard and forced another drawn quarter from Hinckley E, finishing the game 29-17. Player of the match was awarded to Ann-Marie Copple at goal shooter, for her accurate shooting and well-timed drives.
11th January
Hinckley A vs Synergy A
Final score – LOSS 51-60
On Thursday evening the A team played their first fixture of the year. After the cold spell of weather and with it being an evening game, the team knew it was going to be tough however, they started strong with some great defensive pressure thanks to Daisy Savage and Victoria Stevens who kept the visiting team’s score down. The team displayed some fantastic phases of play with dynamic passing and attacking triangles throughout the game. Unfortunately, despite some strong shooting from the eventual player of the match Holly Hemsley, the team took their first loss of the year with a final score of 51-60.
13th January
Hinckley A vs Bulkington A
Final score – LOSS 48-51
Hinckley A played Bulkington A on Saturday. A tight first half saw each team fighting to try and take the lead. At half time both teams were drawing with 25 goals each and a few position changes were made to try and adapt to the tough opposition. Hinckley continued to work hard throughout the court to remain patient and calm to maintain possession and convert to goal. However, they just fell short of the win with the final score being 48-51 to Bulkington. Player of the match went to Lucy Marsden.
Hinckley B vs Offchurch C
Final score – LOSS 32-44
Hinckley B faced Offchurch C in their first fixture of 2024 and it was to be a close game between the two teams currently 2nd and 3rd in the league table. With Hinckley having a full squad of 9, they hoped to use their squad depth to their advantage. The match started goal for goal with both teams keeping the ball safe and moving towards their shooting circles. At half time, the score was 15-19 after Offchurch were able to capitalise on Hinckley’s errors and take the ball to their very strong shooting end. Going in to the third quarter, a few position changes saw Hinckley start strong, but Offchurch pulled away, turning over more ball and extending their lead to 22-33 at the end of the third quarter. The final quarter saw a couple of changes to the Hinckley personnel in an effort to claw back the score, but Offchurch played to their strengths and some umpiring decisions just didn’t fall in Hinckley’s favour. A tough game to begin the year but plenty of positives to take into the next match as Hinckley fight to regain the number 2 spot in the table. The final score was 32-44 with player of the match deservedly awarded to Emma Draycott who had a fantastic game at goal keeper.
Hinckley C vs Copeswood D
Final score – WIN 51-43
Hinckley’s C team faced Copeswood Ds on Saturday in a well fought game. The team started off strong with some lovely communication down court to reward multiple turnover balls, ending the first quarter 6 goals up, 14-8. The game continued to flow with some great passages of play between the midcourt and attacking players. Defence were on top form and saw Abi England applying the pressure to keep the goal attack out of the circle to allow Ella Wilkinson to fly in to intercept the balls heading to the goal shooter. Despite a few lulls and silly mistakes in the final quarters, the team powered ahead and finished the game with a fantastic win of 51-43. Player of the match was awarded to Anna Poulsen who remained strong as goal shooter throughout the game.
Hinckley D vs Alvis D
Final score – WIN 56-22
Hinckley Ds faced Alvis D at home for the first time this season in the first game of 2024 for both teams. In the first quarter, Hinckley took an early lead thanks to precise shooting in attack and strong defensive pressure. However, Alvis worked hard to comeback, narrowing the gap towards the end of the first quarter with their centre court tirelessly bringing the ball down and delivering strong feeds into the circle. As the match progressed into the second quarter, Hinckley maintained their consistency, seamlessly transitioning the ball from defence to attack thanks to numerous turnovers. Despite Alvis making a quick substitution due to injuries, their hardworking efforts persisted across the court. At half time with the score 27-14 in Hinckley’s favour, Hinckley implemented some strategic changes in defence while holding on to their lead. In the final quarter, Hinckley showcased resilience with efficient drives in attack and maintained a steady flow of consistent passes. The final score was 56-22 with player of the match going to Beth Richardson playing goal defence.
16th January
Hinckley B vs Henley D
Final score – WIN 41-17
Hinckley B played a mid-week rearranged fixture against Henley D on Tuesday night in freezing temperatures. Despite the conditions, Hinckley kept their focus and started strong, playing the ball smoothly down the court and pressurising the Henley attackers on their possession to pull out to an 11-4 lead after the first quarter. Hinckley kept up the solid play in the second quarter, conceding only 4 goals to lead 20-8 at halftime. Hinckley made some changes in both the attacking circle and centre court for the third quarter, and the team kept up the performance and pulled away from Henley, winning 41-17 and regaining second place in the table with the win. Player of the match went to Caron Ogden at wing defence.
20th January
Hinckley A vs Rugby Ladies A
Final score – LOSS 41-49
Hinckley A had a strong start against Rugby ladies A keeping their heads calm and playing their own game, ending the first quarter with a level score. Although there were some impressive tips in the defensive circle, Hinckley As ended the first half of the game down by 5. The team kept their focus and used some lovely triangles in the attacking end to bring the score a 3-goal difference. The team continued to work hard all the way through the court but despite some great passages of play, turnover balls and pressure on the opposition, the team couldn’t bring the score back and unfortunately lost, 49-41. Player of the match went to Jess Rainbow for her great defensive pressure.
Hinckley B vs Alvis B
Final score – WIN 51-22
Hinckley B have started the second half of the season well with a strong goal difference win against Alvis B. Looking to build on their midweek win, Hinckley started confidently taking the first quarter 15-4. Unfortunately, Alvis had to play with only 6 players for the rest of the game and the additional space in the mid court did cause Hinckley to rush their game at times. However, with a fortress defensive team of Emma Draycott, Lucy Chapman and Annis Pears providing the foundation, mid courters Katie Phillips, Susan Ley and Caron Ogden providing quick ball and super shooters Cara Stuckey and Carole Payne working hard to get in the best positions to sink their shots, Hinckley continued to pull away finishing the game 51-22 ahead. Player of the match was awarded to Carole Payne for her precise shooting.
Hinckley C vs Ernesford D
Final score LOSS 26-49
Last weekend Hinckley C played against Ernesford D who are currently placed second in the league. Despute a tough match ahead, the C’s started the game well, finding a nice flow with some lovely play down the court. Any turnovers down the defensive end were taken advantage of, stopping Ernesford from gaining a big lead with the first quarter ending, 13-8 to Ernesford. Going into the second quarter the team were confident that they could hold them back but with some great play in the shooting circle from the opposition and several turnovers that came from Hinckley’s mistakes, Ernesford widened the gap by 13 goals at the end of the second quarter. Despite the score the C’s kept fighting, taking every opportunity that came their way with some great feeds down the court and into the circle from centre/goal attack Chloe Phillips. This along with some outstanding defensive pressure from Ella Wilkinson and Erin Twigger meant Ernesford only scored 8 goals in the third quarter. Going into the final quarter, Hinckley showed resilience, not allowing the goal difference to get their heads down but unfortunately the experience of the Ernesford side was too much for the C’s this time. The final score was 49-26 and player of the match deservingly went to Chloe Phillips.
Hinckley D vs Ernesford D
Final score – LOSS 24-36
Hinckley Ladies D played top of the league Ernesford G at home this Saturday. Hinckley started off brilliantly with strong defensive pressure and quick accurate transitions down the court to end the first quarter ahead 11-8.
Hoping to continue the streak, Hinckley went into the second quarter without any changes. Ernesford however made some strategic changes at each end and managed to bring the score back to a draw at half time. With almost a full squad in attendance, Hinckley made a few changes going into the third quarter hoping that fresh legs would be the key to a win. Unfortunately, the team felt more disconnected as a result and Ernesford took advantage by pulling into the lead. Hinckley fought hard in the last quarter and with some great tips and rebounds in defence and pin point long range shooting, the final score was a respectable 24-36 to Ernesford. Player of the match went to Amber Nixon in goal defence.
27th January
Hinckley A vs Leamington B
Final score – DRAW 51-51
Hinckley A played Leamington B at the weekend, a tough opposition who recently came down from the premier league. Hinckley started the match steady and composed, turning over possession and carrying the ball safely down the court. Despite an outstanding defensive display and sharp shooting, Hinckley found themselves trailing at half time by 6 goals, 25-31. After an uplifting half time team talk from captain Beth Thurairajah, Hinckley went back onto court with renewed vigour and dominated the second half. Victoria Stevens and Daisy Savage were holding the Leamington shooters at bay, whilst mid court players Jess Rainbow, Molly Savage, and Lucy Marsden kept the ball safe and secure until it reached joint players of the match, D’arcey Arrowsmith & Holly Hemsley, who rewarded the teams great efforts with some fantastic goals. An incredible second half performance saw Hinckley A claw back the goal difference and end the match a draw, 51-51.
Hinckley B vs Earlsdon Highway D
Final score – WIN 37-27
It took Hinckley B a while to settle into their game against Earlsdon Highway at the weekend. After slowly finding their usual flow and connectivity after the first quarter, they ended the first half of the game just 3 goals ahead, 17-14. With a few tweaks to the team, Hinckley found their rhythm and displayed some great passages of play through the court. Hinckley’s defensive end, made up of Lucy Chapman, Annis Pears and Emma Draycott were a force to be reckoned with and kept the opposition from scoring which was reflected in the score line at the end of the 3rd quarter whereby Hinckley scored 12 goals compared to Highway with only 3. This gave Hinckley the confidence boost they needed allowing them to take on the final quarter with ease. The game ended 37-27 to Hinckley, keeping the B team in the fighting position for promotion. Player of the match was awarded to Caron Ogden for her patient play at centre, helping the ball go safely into the circle.
Hinckley C vs Godiva B
Final score – LOSS 25-37
Expecting a tough game ahead, the C team were prepared and ready to give it their all at the weekend. The first quarter saw Hinckley take an early lead, but Godiva soon found their rhythm and came back fighting to keep the game goal for goal, ending the first quarter even at 8 goals each. The second and third quarters had much of the same with excellent court work, defence and shooting from both sides. Hinckley’s young side showed maturity in their play and battled hard for every goal with midcourt players Polly Coward and Ellie Kyriacou working tirelessly to bring the ball down court for shooters Chloe Phillips and Thea Weaver to put the shots up. Going into the final quarter, only 1 goal behind, Hinckley had a shaky start and allowed Godiva to take the lead by a few goals. Amber Nixon and Abi England stayed tight on their opponents and fought hard to force errors where possible to gain possession back. Despite a fantastic effort, the win went to Godiva with the final score 27-35. Player of the match went to Chloe Phillips for her consistent shooting and great court play.
Hinckley D vs Rugby Ladies C
Final score – LOSS 22-43
Hinckley Ladies D played Rugby Ladies D at the weekend and the game started off even with both sides putting up a good fight. The defence was strong, and the attack was quick, but Rugby Ladies took the first quarter 4-9. The second quarter saw Hinckley working tirelessly to overturn centre passes and stop Rugby increasing their lead. The attack worked well together to score more goals whilst the defence made sure to keep the oppositions attack out by picking up loose balls and intercepting balls as they came into the circle. The second quarter was another tight one, but Hinckley managed to close the gap ending the first half just 2 goals behind Rugby, 13-15. The third quarter saw a resilient Hinckley make a couple of changes as the team tried their best to stick on tight. The centre court had quick and well thought movements throughout the attacking third playing well to work the ball into the D, but Rugby were very quick, firing lots of long balls straight to their goal shooter who extended their score line. The third quarter ended 18-31 to Rugby. The last quarter saw Hinckley give it their all to minimise the goal difference. Great communication was on display allowing play to flow nicely through the attack with the defence staying vigilant whenever the ball made its way down to the oppositions attack. Many tips and intercepts occurred making the last quarter a very exciting one. Unfortunately, Hinckley lost 22-43 but were able to at least take a point from the match. Player of the match deservingly went to Emily Moyo playing both goal defence and wing defence.
30th January
(Rearranged fixture)
A team vs Stockton A
Final score – LOSS 37-45
Hinckley’s A Team faced top-of-the-table Offchurch A, away in a mid-week evening fixture last week. Hinckley got off to a strong start and were able to stay within touching distance of the side in the first half. Super shooters Holly Hemsley & D’arcey Arrowsmith connected beautifully in the shooting circle to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with midcourters Beth Thurairajah, Molly Savage, Jess Rainbow & Lucy Marsden working tirelessly throughout the match to bring the ball down to the shooters. Hinckley’s relentless duo, Daisy Savage and Victoria Stevens, turned over some solid ball in defence to limit Offchurch’s attempts and keep the goal difference low. However, Offchurch kicked up a gear in the second half and the game got away from Hinckley with the final score being 61-40 to Offchurch. Player of the match went to both Daisy Savage and Victoria Stevens for their superb defensive work.
3rd February
A team vs Stockton A
Final score – LOSS 37-45
On Saturday, Hinckley A hosted Stockton A in what was going to be a demanding and competitive game. A quiet first quarter from Hinckley saw them trailing behind 17 to 6 meaning a strong second quarter was required to close the gap. Hinckley rose to the challenge and fought their way back with some great defensive turnovers from Holly Hemsley and Daisy Savage. Ball was brought safely down the court to attack by Jess Rainbow where efforts were rewarded by Lucy Marsden and D’arcey Arrowsmith with some clinical play in the shooting circle. Despite the efforts and winning the quarter, Hinckley still faced a 9-goal difference in the score. Determined, Hinckley dug deep and demonstrated some sharp netball play resulting in a score line of 30-35 in the third quarter meaning Hinckley had turned over plenty of ball and taken their centres to goal. Despite a great effort, Stockton were able to maintain their lead and Hinckley A’s lost out on the win, 37-4. Player of the match was awarded to D’arcey Arrowsmith for her accurate shooting in the circle.
B team vs Whitnash Warriors
Final score – WIN 49-30
Hinckley B continued their winning streak on Saturday in an away game against Whitnash Warriors. It was a lovely game from start to finish with Hinckley B’s getting off to a great start with an 8 goal advantage after the end of the first quarter. Hinckley maintained that lead for the remainder of the game with tight defending to turnover ball and some fantastic intercepts in the midcourt which were rewarded with more goals. Hinckley’s attack was on great form with good passing and patient play around the court. The final score of the game was 49-30 with player of the match awarded to Emily Harrison for her excellent shooting.
C team vs Cherry Bombs A
Final score – LOSS 34-50
Last week, the C team played at home for their second match of the season against Cherry Bombs A team. Hinckley started out strong with some great tips and interceptions from defence, but Cherry Bombs managed to pull away finishing the first quarter 14-7. Hinckley kept fighting and came back stronger in the second quarter with Chloe Phillips and Anna Poulsen in the attacking circle working great as a team to create many goal opportunities, preventing Cherry Bombs A from pulling away further. Hinckley kept fighting to the end of the match, with defensive pressure building in the second half and some great interceptions from mid-court down to defence. Despite some great netball from the C team, Cherry Bombs took the win with a final score of 50-34; a great improvement for Hinckley since they last played this team. Player of the match went to Anna Poulsen as goal shooter for her brilliant shooting and game play in the circle.
D team vs Coventry & North Warwickshire E
Final score – LOSS 25-45
Hinckley Ladies D played Coventry & North Warwickshire’s E team on Saturday. The game started off with some very tight marking from both sides’ defence but both teams worked hard to create multiple turnovers. However, the oppositions defence made it particularly difficult for Hinckley to get the ball to the shooters therefore the first quarter ended with Hinckley 6 goals down, 5 – 11. In the second quarter Coventry & North Warwickshire increased their lead further due to turnovers in their defensive end and despite Hinckley’s centre court all working well together, they finished the ahead quarter 26-10. At half time Hinckley made a strategic change in attack as well as swapping out a defender. During the third quarter Hinckley pushed harder to close the gap in the score line with some good feeds and positioning in the circle, with both teams scoring only 9 goals each. For the fourth quarter, the opposition made further positional changes with two new players coming into their attack. Despite this change, Hinckley kept fighting but despite their best efforts, they were only able to get a point from the game. The final score was 25-45 with player of the match deservingly going to Emily Moyo at wing defence due to her impeccable leans, many interceptions and tight marking.
24th February
B team vs Alec High
Final score – LOSS 39-45
Hinckley B took on the top of the league, Alec High in their match on Saturday. Despite the odds not being in their favour after the large goal deficit in their first run in with the opposition, Hinckley didn’t let that stop them! The Bs started off strong, with the Hinckley defense putting pressure on the Alec High’s attack to turn over every loose ball. The score was close, but with Hinckley’s great spacing down the court and with accurate passes in to the shooting circle, this allowed for the ever important goals to go in. Hinckley finished the first half one goal ahead of their opponents, 24-23. Determined, Hinckley went into the second half of the game with their heads held high and ready for more action. Alec High had a change of positions which lead to tighter marking and turning over a few Hinckley centres in the third quarter. With every shot and ball counting in the close game, Hinckley knew that Alec High wanted to maintain their winning streak. Hinckley slowed down their game and with great communication, passing and marking, this allowed the ball to go into the shooting circle to sustain the pressure. Despite Hinckley’s fight and amazing play, the final score was 39-45 to Alec High. Player of the match went to Emily Harrison who had incredible movement and accurate shooting in the circle.
Hinckley C vs Coventry & North Warwickshire D
Final score – LOSS 33-49
The Cs faced Coventry and North Warwickshire’s D team on Saturday and played exceptionally well. They started off strong with it being goal for goal going into the second quarter. Some lovely interceptions and tips from the team allowed for a slower game and more patient play which put pressure on the opposition. Despite a fantastic effort, the Cs unfortunately came away with a loss of 33-49. Player of the match went to Beth Swain for her fantastic interceptions and great movement across the court.
Hinckley D vs Stockton F
Final score – WIN 31-27
Hinckley D played Stockton F at home and the sun was shining. The first quarter started with a Stockton centre pass, and play moved back and forth before the first goal was scored. Hinckley managed to start to pull in front but Stockton F quickly caught up & ended the first quarter taking a slight lead 8-7. In the second quarter Hinckley’s defence was strong with many turnovers to bring the ball back up court to the attacking circle. Going goal for goal, the second quarter ended 14 all, making it an even playing field heading into the third quarter. At half time Hinckley made a few changes utilising their squad of players available. The attacking was strong in centre court and shooting circle with GS and GA working well together, making some amazing shots. This ended the third quarter 22-23 to Hinckley. Final quarter both teams went out in full force. Defence for Hinckley was tight, making many turnovers, and a number of great interceptions in the centre court. Attack and shooting remained strong and Hinckley finished the game with a win of 31-27. Player of the match went to Emily Moyo for her incredible defensive play throughout the whole match.
2nd March
B team vs Rugby Ladies C
Final score – WIN 36-32
Hinckley B, currently second in the league table faced Rugby Ladies C who are currently third in the table. Knowing that they had a close game ahead, Hinckley started the game steady, winning the first quarter 10-6. In the second quarter Hinckley’s defence remained tight, with Emma Draycott and Lucy Chapman controlling the circle and Annis Pears supporting around the circle edge. Katie Phillips demonstrated clear drives to bring the ball into the attacking half for Susan Ley to feed accurate passes to shooters Emily Harrison and Carole Payne. Rugby made changes at half time which disrupted the game flow that Hinckley had created but Hinckley made changes of their own with captain Caron Ogden coming on at half time, demonstrating tight marking and supporting the passes through court. A superb team effort saw Hinckley take the win with the final score being 36-32. Player of the match went to Katie Phillips for her brilliant drives into space, accurate passing and support around the defence and attacking circles.
Hinckley C vs Stockton D
Final score – LOSS 29-44
Hinckley Ladies C team played Stockton D team on Saturday. The game was played at a really good pace and both teams played excellent netball. It didn’t feel like there was much in it goal wise with the first quarter ending 8-9 to Stockton. Both teams powered through torrential rain and even hail with the score remaining level until half time. However, the game slipped away from the C’s in the third quarter but the team kept pushing and fighting for every ball. The final score was 44-29 to Stockton and despite the score, there were lots of positives to take from the game. Player of the match went to Chloe Phillips.
Hinckley D vs Offchurch D
Final score – LOSS 14-43
Hinckley D faced Offchurch D on Saturday. The energy was high as it was a close game on the last encounter so Hinckley were hoping last week’s success would continue. Hinckley had good movement through the court moving from defence to attack but were challenged by Offchurch’s tall and physical defenders. Hinckley went behind at the end of the first quarter with 6 goals compared to Offchurch’s 11. In the second quarter, attack struggled to score many goals and Offchurch furthered their lead, 8-24. After a team talk at half time and a switch around in defence in the last quarter, Hinckley came back into the game with a fresh outlook, bringing on a new pair of legs in attack. There were some lovely shots and interceptions by both the attackers and defenders but Offchurch were able to maintain their lead. The final score was 43-14 to Offchurch. Player of the match went to Amber Nixon at goal keeper for her awesome work in defence.
9th March
Hinckley A vs Earlsdon Highway B
Final score – LOSS 45-49
On Saturday, Hinckley A hosted Earlsdon Highway B at home after a month off from matches due to February half term and some rearranged games. Hinckley started confidently with some excellent attacking set plays from Beth Thurairajah, Molly Savage and Holly Hemsley, however due to a couple of mistakes, they found themselves losing the first half of the game 21-19. Hinckley started the second half fighting and well needed turnovers from the defensive side, Daisy Savage and Victoria Stevens, were rewarded by some brilliant shooting from Lucy Marsden and D’arcey Arrowsmith. Having dug deep, Hinckley managed to win the second half of the game but unfortunately had left themselves too much to do goal wise with the final score being 45-49 to Earlsdon Highway. Despite an unfortunate loss to a strong side, Hinckley kept the score within 5 goals, earning themselves some well needed points for the table. Player of the match went to Daisy Savage for her fantastic work in defence.
Hinckley B vs Ambleside D
Final score – WIN 49-20
Hinckley B team travelled to Ambleside to play their on form D team on Saturday. Hinckley knew they needed a win to keep second spot on the table in a closely contested fight for promotion. Hinckley started cautiously, taking their time to find their rhythm with a few changes to the lineup since their last game. The scores were even after the first quarter at 9-9. Hinckley started the second quarter with some fantastic interceptions from defensive duo Annis Pears and Lucy Chapman, turning the ball over to then flow seamlessly through to the centre court players Caron Ogden and Katie Phillips, whose dynamic drives and accurate passes allowed them to feed into the shooters and push on to a 19-13 lead at half time. With a couple of position changes, Hinckley really started to show their quality. With great feeds from Susan Ley into the circle, Cara Stuckey and Carole Payne were able to sink the goals and increase the score to 34-17. The last 15 minutes was all about increasing the goal difference and with excellent defensive work by Emma Draycott and the many interceptions by the well deserved player of the match Annis Pears, Hinckley excelled with their best quarter to finish. Another outstanding win of 49-20.
Hinckley C vs Harbury B
Final score – LOSS 34-41
Hinckley C played Harbury B on Saturday. In the first quarter Hinckley started off strong with many tips and great interceptions but Harbury managed to pull ahead slightly with 13 goals compared to Hinckley’s 7. Hinckley remained motivated to bring the score line closer with the attacking circle working great together to create many goal chances. Hinckley kept on fighting to the end of the match with fantastic defensive pressure, interceptions and a positive mindset throughout. Despite some great netball on display from the C team, Harbury were able to pull away and take the win. The final score was 34-41 which is an amazing improvement from the previosu score when they faced Harbury last time. Player of the match went to Beth Swain for her consistent energy and brilliant intercepts.
Hinckley D vs Bedworth A
Final score – DRAW 26-26
Hinckley Ladies D played Bedworth A away on a windy Saturday morning last week. Hinckley had a rocky start in the first quarter and struggled to find their rhythm with a few unforced errors meaning they finished the first quarter 5 goals down. Hinckley made some changes to their attacking line up going into the second quarter and came out stronger, making good use of the option to reset the ball at the third line to wing defence where needed. That, coupled with several defensive turnovers, meant Hinckley closed the gap and went into half time with a closer score of 13-14 with Bedworth still in the lead. Determined to continue with the good work, Hinckley made minimal changes going into quarter three having already changed their shooting circle due to squad availability. Defence were strong on both sides resulting in a few more goals being scored. However, Hinckley’s consistency in attack and defence paid off as the third quarter ended 17-17. Both teams came out determined in the last quarter. Hinckley pulled ahead in the early stages but following a few errors, Bedworth came back strong and took the lead by 3 goals. Hinckley kept calm and managed to pull back the deficit & equalise just before the final whistle ending with a well deserved draw at 26-26! An exciting match nonetheless. Player of the match went to Emily Moyo at goal defence.
16th March
Hinckley A vs Leamington C
Final score – WIN 43-32
It was a crucial game for Hinckley As against Leamington C at the weekend. The game started off evenly matched with Hinckley leading by 1 at the end of the first quarter. With a few turnovers in the mid court and some incredible pressure in the defensive circle, Hinckley gained a stronghold in the game. Last week’s player of the match Daisy Savage paired with Victoria Stevens in defence, turned over many a ball thanks to their great leans, fantastic rebounds and brilliant reading of the game. The attacking end was calm under pressure working the ball around the D patiently and making great use of triangles to then sink the shots. Hinckley’s hard work and determination paid off ending with a 43-32 win. Player of the match went to Lucy Marsden for her brilliant play as wing attack.
Hinckley B vs Henley D
Final score – DRAW 31-31
Hinckley B played a tightly contested game this week against Henley’s D team who were fighting hard for every point to avoid relegation. The first quarter momentum was back and forth with Hinckley just edging it 9-6 at the break. Henley fought back in the second quarter with the score level at 16 all at half time. Hinckley made some positional changes, tried to steady themselves back to their usual calm play style, and pulled back ahead 24-20 at the end of the third quarter, showing great fighting spirit throughout the whole team. However, Henley fought back again and a frantic final quarter with both teams competing hard for every ball ended in a draw with the final score as 31-31. Player of the match went to Cara Stuckey at goal attack for her calm attacking circle play and her great defensive cover through the court.
Hinckley C vs Arleys Angels
Final score- LOSS 28-66
Hinckley C’s played top of the table Arleys Angels at the weekend. Hinckley knew they had a tough game ahead but they started off well, showing good gameplay down the court and ending the first quarter with a score of 14-6 to Arleys Angels. Hinckley continued to work hard despite a tough opposition, working the ball down court to allow shooters Anna Poulsen and Chloe Phillips a chance to score more goals. Changes were made in the third quarter and despite the score slipping away, Hinckley displayed some great gameplay and fought hard right until the final whistle. The match ended with a loss of 28-66 with player of the match going to Chloe Phillips at goal attack. Despite the score, the Cs took lots of positives away from the game and showed fantastic team work and spirit throughout.
Hinckley D vs Warwick Ladies B
Final score – WIN 36-20
Hinckley D faced Warwick Ladies B at home on Saturday. They walked into the game with an extremely positive attitude, determined to come away with a win having only lost the previous game against this team by 1 goal! In the first quarter, it was end to end with both Hinckley and Warwick working hard on court to get the ball down to goal, with defence and attack as well as centre court working as one. The first quarter ended in an 8 all draw. Moving to the second quarter, Hinckley pulled out in front using everything they had to win, with defence gaining lots of turnovers on the back of some amazing tips. In the attacking end, there were many incredible interceptions and the team worked hard to fight for loose balls, going ahead by 6 goals. At half time, the team looked to switch around some players, changing those in both defence and centre court. Hinckley fought harder and harder to try and secure this win for each other and the third quarter ended 24-18 in Hinckley’s favour. The team, unfazed but driven to win, went into the last quarter with all members of the team fighting hard to keep possession. Attack continued to sink the goals and went for every rebound and defence achieved many more interceptions and tips throughout the whole quarter. The final score ended 36-20 to Hinckley, securing a well-deserved win and a great team effort from all 9 squad players. Player of the match went to Emily Moyo for her fantastic interceptions in the defensive circle.
6th April
(Rearranged fixture)
Hinckley D vs Ambleside E
Final score – LOSS 26-37
Hinckley D played Ambleside E in a very exciting game on 6th April. Play started even with both teams matching each other goal for goal in the first quarter which ended 9 all. In the second and third quarters, Hinckley kept the pressure on, but Ambleside went ahead finishing both quarters just 1 goal ahead. The defence made many turnovers throughout the game with Summer Ashley at centre getting many tips in the mid-court. Ambleside made some tactical changes in the last quarter swapping both their goal keeper and goal shooter who were tall and solid players. This then made it very difficult for Hinckley’s attack to continue their run of play and the mid court players struggled to get the feeds into the attacking circle. Despite some accurate shooting by both Anita King and Isla Gilby in the first 3 quarters, they were limited in the last quarter and Ambleside pulled ahead to win the game 26-37. Player of the match went to Amber Nixon for her persistent pressure in defence at goal keeper.
13th April
Hinckley A vs Synergy A
Final score – LOSS 60-63
This week the A team played their final Saturday game of the season against Synergy A. With only 3 games left, the team made the most of every moment of this game and pulled back some well needed points. The team started strong with some great defensive play thanks to Holly Hemsley and Victoria Stevens who kept the home team from catching up on goals during the first quarter, giving Hinckley the edge after the first 15. The team displayed some fantastic phases of play with dynamic passing and attacking triangles between the mid-court and shooters. Unfortunately, despite some strong shooting from the eventual player of the match Lucy Marsden, the team took a narrow loss 63-60 but hung onto the vital 2 points needed to secure them from the relegation zone.
Hinckley B vs Leamington E
Final score – WIN 41-23
Hinckley B’s faced Leamington E for their penultimate game of the season. In what looked to be a windy game, the B’s started steady to find themselves up 10-4 after the first quarter, with Lucy Chapman at goal defence and Emma Draycott at goal keeper putting pressure on the oppositions shots, and Annis Pears at wing defence marking tightly around the circle. The second quarter saw a shaky start, but some minor adjustments to the team’s play helped to keep the B’s pushing on. At half time the score was 20-10. A few changes were made by captain Caron Ogden before Q3, with Sue Ley moving from wing attack to wing defence and Carole Payne entering the game at goal shooter. The B’s were eager to keep their flow, knowing that goal difference may come into play at the end of the season in the team’s push for promotion. Cara Stuckey at goal attack continued to sink her shots thanks to lovely feeds by Emily Harrison at wing attack and Katie Phillips at centre, and the team saw a third quarter score of 11-5. Despite a minor Leamington charge midway through the final 15 minutes, Hinckley B’s maintained their lead and continued their fight to win 41-23. Player of the match went to Katie Phillips at centre for her amazing work in supporting both attack and defence throughout the court.
Hinckley C vs Synergy C
Final score – WIN 63-32
Hinckley C team played Synergy C at the weekend and came away with a fantastic win. Throughout the match, Hinckley displayed great teamwork and some fantastic passages of play across court. Thanks to many interceptions and great shooting from the attacking end made up of Chloe Phillips, Thea Weaver and Polly Coward, Hinckley gained an early lead in the first quarter. Backed up by solid defending from Ella Wilkinson, Anna Poulsen and Abi England, the ball was worked seamlessly down court to turnover ball and score more goals. Hinckley maintained their lead throughout, and a very well- deserved player of the match went to Beth Swain for her amazing work at centre.
16th April
(Rearranged fixture)
Hinckley A vs Stockton B
Final score – WIN 55-42
The first of two mid-week games saw Hinckley A’s travel to Stockton to take on their B team in a highly anticipated evening game. The game started, as expected, with a close scoreline with Hinckley managing to pull ahead at the end of the quarter by a 6 goal lead. The second quarter saw a more nervy 15 minutes with Stockton closing the gap and the first half of the game ended with a 26-24 lead to Hinckley. However, Hinckley managed to regain composure and came back out into the second half of the game playing positive fast attacking netball. They kept calm heads and this positive attitude continued for the remainder of the game. Defensive pressure and calm collected decision making from player of the match, and captain, Beth Thurairajah saw her and her team finish the game with an impressive win of 55- 42 goals over the Stockton team.
18th April
(Rearranged fixture)
Hinckley A vs Bulkington A
Final score – LOSS 39-48
Hinckley A had their final match of the season on Thursday night vs Bulkington A. Hinckley A took the lead in the first quarter, keeping their cool and outclassing the opposition with their composed and efficient play. Despite some great turnovers and accurate shooting, Bulkington fought back in the 2nd quarter and brought the score back to a draw at half time, 22 all. Hinckley fell on the wrong side of a few decisions in the second half, which meant possession was overturned to their opposition and allowed them to sneak ahead by 6-goals. Although Hinckley were a few goals down heading into the final quarter, all the players pulled together for one last push in the last game of their first season in Division 1. Jess Rainbow, Molly Savage, and Beth Thurairajah dominated the middle third, carrying well fought turnovers from defenders Daisy Savage and Victoria Stevens into the safe hands of consistent shooters Lucy Marsden and D’arcey Arrowsmith. Despite Hinckley’s last quarter effort, Bulkington were able to hold on to their lead and win the match 48-39. Player of the match was awarded to Holly Hemsley, who played in both defence and attack during the match.
20th April
Hinckley B vs Offchurch C
Final score WIN 35-32
In their final match of the season, the Bs knew they needed to secure a win with promotion in reaching distance. It was set to be an important match that not only needed to be won, but also needed to be won by a goal difference of 10 to secure the second spot in the table. The team started off steady and worked the ball patiently into the circle with the first quarter ending 8-4 to Hinckley. The second quarter got off to a shaky start with Offchurch ramping it up a gear to claw back the goal difference to just 1 at half time. The team came back on court with a fighting spirit, and the defensive duo of Lucy Chapman and Emma Draycott turned over many a ball which made its way to the shooting duo of Cara Stuckey and Carole Payne to sink the shots. The third quarter ended 23 all so it was time for the B team to dig really deep in the final quarter. Centre court made up of Katie Phillips, Sue Ley and Emily Harrison got into a fantastic rhythm, and thanks to some brilliant passages of play and clinical movement, the ball flowed nicely into the attacking circle. After several turnovers and some well fought goals, the Bs took home the victory to end what has been a brilliant season for them. The final score was 35-32 meaning the team hadn’t done enough to secure promotion but, none the less, they walked away proud of what they’d achieved as a team this season, finishing a respectable 3rd overall. Player of the match was awarded to Cara Stuckey as goal attack.
Hinckley C vs Copeswood D
Final score WIN 58-22
Hinckley Ladies C team played Copeswood D at the weekend. It was a lovely match to end the season on with the sun shining down. The game started on a high with some fantastic interceptions in defence to turnover ball. Centre court then worked the ball beautifully down court into the attacking circle to rack up the scoreline. Attack were on top form and the game saw great communication in the circle and accurate shooting. Having found their rhythm early on in the game and extending an unbeatable lead by the third quarter, the Cs began to relax and work the ball patiently between the players before it made its way into the net in their final 15 minutes of the season. They went on to win their game by an amazing 58 goals to 22, with player of the match going to Thea Weaver as goal shooter.
Hinckley D vs Alvis D
Final score WIN 32-16
Hinckley Ds final match of the season was away against Alvis D. A slow start to the game saw Hinckley down 3 goals at the end of the first quarter (8-5), but with encouragement from Hinckley’s supporters on the sideline the team were keen to pull it back. Hinckley made some strategic changes and fought back in the second quarter, with some accurate shooting from Isla Gilby and Ava Brown meaning they took the lead at half time with a score of 14-12. The second half of the game saw Hinckley take the lead even further, with some great tips in defence from Hannah Coltman and strong attacking teamwork from Charlotte Pinkham, Beth Richardson and Anita King. Hinckley kept up their pace in the final quarter, successfully turning over the ball on multiple occasions. The team were pleased to end the season with a win with a final score of 32-16. Player of the match went to Isla Gilby at goal attack for her great play and for keeping everyone entertained throughout the game. The win ensured the D team were able to remain in Division 7 for another season.