Last updated 19:27, Thursday, 20 November 2008

NO SURPRISES this week in the Workington Netball League, with the established teams maintaining their nerve to see off the new starters.

There were convincing wins for Misfits, Ashfield, Yankees and the Bush, though the scorelines fail to reflect the improvement shown by many of the new teams.

A nail-biting finish between Seaton Ladies and Fletchers kept spectators guessing on the match outcome right up until the final whistle.

League chairman Sarah Jarrett said: “This week’s results show that the experience of playing together as a team really pays off.

“This is why we always encourage new teams to think about holding training sessions. Practice really does make perfect.”

Red Socks 10

Striking Candy 4

These are both new teams and the match took a while to get going.

However, once players had warmed up the passing and shooting shown by both teams, especially Red Socks, started to come together. Good interceptions by both sides made the game an interesting one to watch.

Yankees 27

Pink Ladies 8

Despite a very strong first quarter from new team Pink Ladies, Yankees’ experience won through.

Yankees displayed both fast pace and strong passes as the ball moved down the court quickly. With good shooting from Lucy and Linzi, Yankees started to pull away.

Pink Ladies kept their heads held high throughout, continually fighting for a better final score.

Their captain Louise Blacklock said: “With every match Pink Ladies are gaining experience and this will help us develop our talent for future games.”

Seaton Ladies 16

Fletchers 15

This was a very slow game to start but eventually both teams settled down and got into their stride.

It developed into a close-fought match after half-time with both teams upping the ante and the shooters now being on target.

Silloth 12

Ashfield 24

A slow and, at times, scrappy game with Silloth unsettling Ashfield in the first couple of quarters.

However, Ashfield’s experience became clear after half-time, with some great passes in from the centre third to the goal third, and their shooters hardly missed a shot.

Salterbeck 5

Misfits 26

The game began with a very fast pace, which was maintained throughout the match.

In the second quarter Misfits really started to pull away and the on-target shooting from their GS and GA proved just too good for the Salterbeck defence.

Bush 13

Sparks 1

Sparks’ defence kept the Bush from their normal high goal tally in a slow-paced first quarter.

However, the pace increased, matching the Bush’s preferred game play, and their score rose accordingly, with some great passing shots from the centre and the wings.