Panthers finish their season on a high securing 3rd place with their best performance to date, coming agonisingly close to victory against unbeaten league winners, Penzance
Liskeard Panthers 23 - 25 Penzance [4]
Starting Line-Up: GK Kay Barker, GD Vicki Hastings, WD Sophie Thomas, C Siobhan Howe, WA Kerry Elliott, GA Vicky Ford, GS Christina Broad. Res: Erin Down, Amie Hoskin, Emma Dalton.
Panthers knew it would be a tough game against the team at the top of their division, and adding to the pressure, Panthers knew they needed a win to be in with a chance of promotion to division 5. They now face an agonising wait to find out if they will be promoted upon a division re-shuffle at the beginning of the new season in September.
Ensuring they had their best squad ready for the match, Panthers put on an impressive display of determination and contest for the ball with the first quarter being goal for goal until Penzance gained a lead of 7-5. At quarter time Erin Down came on in place of Thomas at WD, a decision by coach Hocking to maximise potential and the first of many changes throughout the match.
The second quarter saw more excellent play from the home team, with some fantastic interceptions from Hastings and some great mid court battles between Howe and her opposing centre. The first half ended 9 - 13 to Penzance, but Panthers knew they were definitely still in the game.
Elliott and Ford came off at half time, with Hoskin coming on at GA and Dalton at WA which proved to be a good decision by Hocking. The pair gelled well together working the ball fast down the court and into the circle, and Panthers won the quarter 7 - 6, going into the last quarter just 3 goals behind.
Elliott came back on for Howe for the last, and Panthers continued to fight for possession and go for goals with Broad and Hoskin proving a great first time partnership. Holding the play and keeping Penzance’s goals at bay were (player of the match) Hastings and Barker, constantly on the defence, obtaining re-bounds and delaying play, the partnership between the two proved again to be a perfect pairing.
Liskeard fought hard throughout the match, their performance however, although the best they had played all season, was just not enough, the final score being an extremely close 23 - 25.
Panthers put up an excellent fight and finish the season on a well deserved high.
Cougars finish in style with a convincing home win against Falcons.
Cougars 49 - 26 Falcons [2]
Starting Line up: GS Gabi Duffey, GA Lisa Webb, WA Sarah Collins, C Emma Dalton, WD Liz Julian, GD Debbie Drinkell, GK Sarah Skews. Res Jenny Cribb & Emma Read
Cougars were without Erin Down and Vicky Hastings for their final match of the season, so Emma Dalton took the centre bib freeing Debbie Drinkell to play GD. The rest of the team played in their usual positions. Cougars started quickly with a turnover on the first Falcon centre pass. They then capitalised on the early advantage to lead 5 – 1 after the first five minutes. From the start Dalton and Collins at WA were dominant in attack passing confidently between themselves and Webb at GA to ensure accurate and safe feeds into Duffey at GS, giving Cougars a Quarter time lead of 11 – 3.
Defensively Cougars prevented any continuity of play for the visitors with the height of Skews at GK proving a real problem for the Falcon GS. This forced the majority of their attack onto the Falcon GA who although much taller than Drinkell was continually put off target by her tight marking. The rebounds were almost entirely picked up by Skews and Drinkell who wasted no time in feeding the through ball to WD Julian. By the end of the half Cougars had extended their lead to 23 – 7.
The beginning of the second half saw Cribb replacing Julian at WD. Again Cougars pushed forward with both wings supporting the excellent forward drive of Dalton, and with some spectacular long shots Duffey and Webb showed that they were at home at all angles of the shooting circle and by the end of the third session Cougars lead was 36 – 14.
The 4th quarter was a much more even affair; Falcons never gave up and played hard until the final whistle. All credit to their two shooters who worked the ball well and they were rewarded with a point as they pegged Cougars back to make the scores within half. Well done to Cougars though for an overall excellent team performance ending the season with their highest score of the campaign.
Player of the match went to Dalton for her excellent supporting play.
Thanks to umpires Lucy Smale and Helen Tuxford
Cougars put up a good fight but just miss out to Penzance
Liskeard Cougars 29 - 35 Penzance [3]
Starting Line-Up: GK Sarah Skews, GD Erin Down, WD Emma Dalton, C Amie Hoskin, WA Sarah Collins, GA Lisa Webb, GS Gabi Duffey. Res Liz Julian & Emma Read.
Cougars knew this would be a tough game, Penzance having only lost 3 games all season, but with a strong line-up they were confident they could give them a good game - and they certainly did that!
Both teams started well, Cougars adapting well to yet another new line-up and although the Liskeard shooters took a few attempts to get their eye in they were soon on top form and it was pretty much goal for goal, ending the quarter with Liskeard just 2 goals behind at 6 - 8.
Hoskin and Dalton switched going into the second, and Cougars got off to a great start, taking the lead for the first time. A knee injury to Emma Dalton was a big blow to the team but Liz Julian came on as WD (with Hoskin going back to C), and with the help of some fantastic defending by Down, Liskeard held their own, drawing the quarter and finishing the first half 14 - 16.
The third quarter was even better from the home team, with some strong mid-court play and excellent movement from Hoskin feeding the ball into the circle followed by more great shooting from Webb & Duffey. Cougars won the quarter 8 - 6, meaning the game was tied at 22 all going into the last.
Unfortunately, Erin Down was called away at the break so Emma Read came on to replace her at GD. It was a slow start for the Cougars, and with the Penzance GS rarely missing an opportunity the game soon got away from the home side. They worked hard to the end, but the loss of two key players definitely showed and the game finished 29 - 35.