COUGARS LOSE OUT TO CONNECT IN THE LAST QUARTER
Connect [4] 24, Cougars 23
Starting Line up: GK Debbie Drinkell, GD Rachel Congdon, WD Maria Jordan, C Louise Piner, WA Kerry Elliott, GA Emma Thomas, GS Vicky Ford
The last game of the season against Connects 4th team saw a disappointing result for Cougars – with only 7 players available together with an early start scheduled for the match the visitors were up against it from the start.
Both teams started slowly but it was Cougars who had the best of the early play. Centre Louise Piner made some brilliant interceptions in the Connect 3rd turning over the ball into the safe hands of GS Vicky Ford for an early advantage. Connect settled toward the end of the quarter however and pulled the deficit back to 4 goals finishing Cougars 8, Connect 4.
A slow paced second half saw defenders GK Debbie Drinkell and GD Rachel Congdon get the better of the two Connect shooters making them work hard for every ball into the circle. Cougars were unable to draw away from their opponents though as the Connect defence tightened up piling pressure on GS Ford forcing her to take balls at the edge of the circle. Some superb shooting from Ford and GA Emma Thomas however keep the Cougar lead at 4 goals with the 2nd quarter ending Liskeard 14, Connect 10.
Cougars played their best netball during the third quarter with WA Kerry Elliot and WD Maria Jordan ensuring a safe transition down the court resulting in an increase in the lead by a further 7 points, but with 5 minutes to go Connect responded with 3 goals in succession once again bringing the score to within 4, setting the scene for a competitive final quarter.
This proved to be a scrappy affair with both teams making errors of judgement. But with the Connect GS gaining in confidence and some handling errors from the Cougars, the home side were able to take the lead leaving the Cougars no time to respond. Final score Connect 24, Liskeard Cougars 23.
Well done to all the players, especially Kerry Elliot who played despite having had a car accident at the weekend, and to Rachel Congdon who was awarded Captains Player of the Match for her supporting play and tireless defending.
TIGERS FINISH THEIR SEASON WITH A WIN AWAY TO SAINTS
Saints 36, Tigers 41
Liskeard Tigers travelled to Truro to face the young Saints side in their final match of the season.
Saints opened the scoring from the Liskeard centre pass but the Tigers settled quickly and GA Hoskin started to convert her many attempts at goal. Liskeard pulled a 7 goal lead with no response from Saints but their GS found her way into the game to pull back some of the deficit and end the quarter 10-7 to Liskeard.
The Tigers remained unchanged for the second period and were able to extend their lead. GD Hastings had the measure of the GA, ensuring she was unable to create the chances for Saints and fed the ball carefully down the court. Both shooters had a storming quarter, scoring 14 out of 18 attempts; great circle play supported by both Dalton and Glossop gave the team more opportunities which were duly converted by Hocking and Hoskin. Liskeard extended their lead to 7 goals at half time.
Eldridge replaced Dalton for the third quarter and the fresh legs gave Tigers an added advantage. Glossop covered the court well, supporting both defence and attack. Liskeard started to slow the game to their own pace, despite their enthusiastic opposition, and all that had been practised throughout the season was evident. Smale picked off the rebounds and with Hastings having a great game, she and WD Lemon played the ball down to attack. Both backed up the attacking play to retain possession and the team took the quarter 12-7 to extend their lead further.
Dalton returned for the final quarter but complacency and tiredness began to falter Liskeard’s play. 3 goals with no reply pulled Saints back into the game but Liskeard weren’t going to be beaten and fought back to go 10 goals in front. They knew the win was theirs but they allowed Saints back again, through sloppy passes and poor play. Fewer attempts for both shooters, and great shooting from the Saints GS saw the scores narrow to just 5 goals. However, the hard work was done earlier in the game and Liskeard took the win 41-36, also ensuring Saints just the one bonus point.
COUGARS FIGHT BACK TO SECURE A VICTORY IN THEIR FINAL HOME GAME THIS SEASON
Liskeard Cougars 34, St Agnes [5] 32
It was an unusual start to Cougars last home game of the season. Due to sickness, injury and prior commitments and with GA Emma Thomas delayed, Cougars took to the court with only 6 players. Defender Lynn Webb started at GA, versatile Louise Piner replaced injured Siobhan Howe at Centre and Maria Jordan replaced absent Kerry Elliot at WA with the WD position remaining vacant
Cougars won the toss and for the first 5 minutes held their own and taking a 5 goal to 3 lead. Unfortunately the lack of a WD was becoming noticeable with the St Agnes team making use of the space afforded by its absence. Cougars struggled to contain an increasingly confident Aggy attack and were relieved when “missing” Cougar Emma Thomas was cleared to come on court with 90 seconds to go in the first quarter. St Agnes took the first quarter leaving Liskeard a lot of work to do in the remaining 3 quarters, Liskeard 5, St Agnes 12.
Emma Thomas took over at GA freeing Lynn Webb to return to GK, Debbie Drinkell went to GD and Rachel Congdon took the WD bib. Defence became very tight and Cougars worked hard to prevent any advance by the visitors. They produced some good transitional play down the court with Centre Piner and WA Jordan ensuring shooters Vicky Ford and Emma Thomas had quality balls into the circle. Cougars took the quarter thanks to some superb shooting by Ford to trail by just 2 goals at the end of the quarter, Liskeard 17 St Agnes 19 .
No changes were made for the rest of the match as Cougars sensed victory and the third quarter was indeed their strongest. Utilising the momentum generated in the second quarter Cougars applied pressure on all the St Agnes balls resulting in a 27 - 23 lead going into the final quarter.
Captain Drinkells team talk at quarter time reminded the team to stay focussed and with Cougars having the Centre pass at the beginning of play they were confident of a victory. St Agnes however were not beaten yet and came out the more determined pulling back the 4 goal lead to tie the scores at 32 all with just minutes to go. Congdon made a crucial interception which was fed through Jordan to GA Thomas who held her nerve to give Liskeard the slenderest of leads. With a St Agnes Centre taken quickly the visitors came within a whisker of tying the match but Webb sprung into defend and made a brilliant interception. With the ball safely moved up the court Thomas again netted to win a very close and competitive match. Final score Liskeard 34, St Agnes 32.
Player of the match was Louise Piner for an all around strong performance.
COUGARS ARE VICTORIOUS AT HOME TO ST AGNES 4
Cougars 26, St Agnes [4] 21
Starting line-up: GK Debbie Drinkell, GD Rachel Congdon, WD Louise Piner, C Siobhan Howe, WA Kerry Elliott, GA Emma Thomas, GS Vicky Ford. Res Maria Jordan
Liskeard welcomed St Agnes 4ths to Lux Park confident that they would be able to repeat the win of the away fixture earlier in the season.
It was apparent from the first centre pass that both teams were capable of taking the win. St Agnes won the toss but Cougars were able to intercept and turnover the ball to score the first goal. The visitors responded, going 3 goals ahead, but Cougars were quick to overcome the deficit and goals then went with centre pass in an extremely evenly matched game, ending the first quarter level at 6 - 6.
St Agnes were first to apply the pressure, Liskeard defence GK Debbie Drinkell and GD Rachel Congdon working hard to limit the shooting options of the St Agnes attack but despite some well timed interceptions Liskeard were unable to convert and St Agnes began to open up a lead. All credit to the Liskeard attack Centre Siobhan Howe and WA Kerry Elliott who worked tirelessly to support GS Vicky Ford and GA Emma Thomas. Howe making her presence known at both ends of the court in typically energetic style and Ford finding her range netting some superb long range shots to cut the deficit to 1 goal ending the second quarter 11-12.
Louise Piner went to GA and Maria Jordan replaced her at WD for the 3rd quarter. With nothing to separate the 2 teams scoring went with centre pass. Link play through the court by WD Jordan and GD Congdon supported the attack with some excellent possession play and ensured a safe ball transit to the Liskeard shooters. Piner did well to work the ball around the circle ably supported by Elliott.
Scores were tied at 18 all going into the last quarter and hardworking GD Congdon was given a well deserved rest with Emma Thomas taking the bib. Liskeard had the advantage of centre pass and did not squander it. Following some tight defensive work by GK Drinkell and GD Thomas the St Agnes attack were unable to put passes through to the shooters and Liskeard were able to draw away to close the match out victorious - Final score Cougars 26, St Agnes 21.
Captain Debbie Drinkell praised her team who all gave 100% in a well deserved victory. "It was impossible to pick a player of the match as all the girls worked extremely hard in a very competitive encounter.
Special thanks to Mandy Piner who umpired for us at extremely short notice and made it possible for us to play the game.”
Pictures by Glen Rogers