This week our SU sport spotlight is on Netball.
On Wednesday, the University of Lincoln’s women’s first team got their BUCS season underway with a win against Warwick women’s 2nd team.
The first quarter was one of controversy following a lot of fouls being granted.
Both teams were finding more out about each other throughout the opening minutes and it was the high intensity and pressure applied by the Lincoln first team that impressed.
However, this pressure did occasionally lead to fouls that the Warwick GA Rebecca Lloyd was able to capitalise on with some clinical finishing.
She was on a mission to keep up with the form of Lincoln’s GS Helen Griffith who scored eight goals just in the first quarter. Griffith was given consistent service from her centre Emma White whose distribution and movement were pulling the strings of most Lincoln attacks.
The second quarter saw Griffith really hit her top form netting ten goals altogether.
Warwick were making a comeback in this quarter and the two teams were tying with two minutes to go. Griffith showed a combination of fighting spirit and experience to break the tie and get her team into half time on top. The score now stood at 21-19.
In the third quarter, Lincoln’s GA Olivia Weston stepped up to show impressive character as Warwick threatened a fightback.
Despite having played the whole game she managed to keep the same intensity and creativity throughout the match. She was rewarded for her efforts as she netted four goals, one of which was one to remember.
Just inside the goal circle Weston had three shots which failed to drop in. However, despite this she won back every rebound and reaped the rewards by bagging herself a deeply satisfying goal on the fourth shot.
There were shouts from the Warwick bench to slow down the play but due to Lincoln’s intensity and pressure Warwick simply couldn’t dictate the game. The third quarter ended 37-29 to Lincoln.
Warwick came out fighting in the final quarter and scored six goals but Lincoln stood firm as Weston and Griffith rounded off a great performance with eleven goals between them.
This first BUCS game for the netball first team ended 48-36 to the University of Lincoln Netball Club.
GS and captain Helen Griffith was voted as player of the match by her teammates.