Champs taken to edge in thriller

The Wolverhampton City Netball League’s current champions, Sapphires, were close to losing their unb-eaten record when DK Ladies kept them down to a three goal winning margin.

DK’s defence, Kate Gardener and Hannah Coyle worked the Sapphires shooters, Linda Thomas and Gale Perrins, into overdrive whilst Linda’s daughter, Nicola Watson, and Rachel Baker battled it out at centre.  

In Division Five, Chasetown B preserved their winning streak by outclassing Chasers Ladies in a nippy game of short passing to compensate for the high winds.

 Both team’s young shooters - Charlotte Topman, Annette Murphy, Sarah Speed and Alice Le Page all managed to place themselves under the goalposts to good effect. 

In the same division, Thundercats and Chasers Juniors engaged each other in a goal for goal contest with Chasers Juniors, mostly U16s, leading all through the first half whilst Thundercats ‘second wind’ after half-time served them well to contain the youngsters to a just draw. 

This week’s Non-Winners Knock-Out competition match showed new team PHX clawing a 4 goal win over Penn Outsiders to claim a place in the finals. 

Results: 

Division 1: Sapphires 27 (5 points) DK Ladies 23 (2 points); Whitmore X 31 (5) Wednesfield  18 (1); Whitmore M 26 (5) Sam 2 18 (1); Whitmore Y 23 (5) Grasshoppers 10 (0).

Division 2: PHX 24 (5) Penn Outsiders 20 (2); Sedgley Cabin 25 (5) Static Systems 7 (0); Penn Outsiders 34 (5) Eurostars 9 (0); PHX 25 (5) Crescent 1 16 (5); Sam 1 13 (1) Ladybirds 23 (5).

Division 3: Phoenix 38 (5) Wordsley Stork 14 (0).

Division 4: Silk 11 (0) Ice 23 (5); Crescent 2 22 (5) GE Money 17 (1).

Division 5:Thundercats 11 (3)  Chasers Juniors 11 (3); Chasetown B 24 (5) Chasers Ladies 10 (0).

Non-Winners Knock-Out:PHX 24 Penn Outsiders 20