The UoB Netball 2s’ first game of the season was extremely successful, with the Lions overpowering Leicester’s 1st team 63-36 – a well-deserved win following an impressive performance.
On Wednesday Birmingham 2s stepped out onto the new courts in UB Sport & Fitness Centre, hosting Leicester’s 1st team in the Midlands 2A league. With team trials having taken place less than 3 weeks prior to the first game of the season, it was Birmingham’s first chance to see how this new team played together under pressure.
The home team started very strong in the first quarter, with powerful defence and good interceptions from the girls. Strong shooting from Birmingham’s attack helped convert vital goals, which provided the Lions with an immediate lead over the visiting side.
The second and third quarters showed a slightly more rattled Leicester side as they felt the pressure of the growing gap on the scoreboard. This resulted in increasingly frequent unforced errors and fouls, and the UoB girls were quick to take advantage of these errors and convert them into goals for their team. Special mention must go to UoB’s Charlotte Bray (GS/GA) who delivered an impressive performance with almost every shot put up going in!
Having established a 33-20 lead, the Lions were able to test out new team formations in the second half of the game, demonstrating the versatility of the players.
The final quarter was perhaps the most successful for the Lions, who scored 18 goals compared to Leicester’s 7. UoB’s Poppy Bathurst (GD) played outstandingly, forcing the Leicester attacking side to swing the ball in the circle more, as they attempted to manoeuvre the ball to their desired position. Growing support from the other UoB Netball Teams on the sideline provided that last ‘push’ for the team, as they comfortably secured their first win of the new season!
