Isle of Man Netball reports from games played on Sunday, December 6:

Premier Division

Brown Craine Toomraiders 16, Simcocks Gold Eagles 23

This was a close game with both teams coming out strongly in the first period, making the score 5-5 at quarter-time.

The second quarter continued to be very close, the score being 11-10 to Simcocks Gold at half-time.

The fresh legs and super shooting skills of GA Angela Aumonier along with GS Cristina Salinardi from Simcocks saw them take the lead in the third quarter 17-13.

Despite the strong defensive display from Toomraiders’ Zoe Shimmin and Ellie Howell-Evans, Simcocks continued to pull away.

The tireless work of Leanne Faragher at centre together with the dynamic defensive play from Jess Hatton (GK) and Lizzy Power (GD) enabled Simcocks to claim victory with a final score of 23-16.

The well-deserved player of the match award went to Faragher from Simcocks.

Division One

Route 1 Turbos 21, Suntera Global Ballasalla Charlie 32

On paper this looked like it would be an easy game for top-of-the-table Ballasalla Charlie, but Route 1 Turbos did not make it easy for them and fought from the very outset.

The Ballasalla defensive duo of Sarah Lister (GK) and Steph Haslett (GD) were able to capitalise on some early Turbos errors which their shooters Kath Kermode (GS) and Amelia Quinn (GA) easily converted, allowing Ballasalla to creep ahead slightly at the start of the first quarter.

But Route 1 Turbos soon settled and the play flowed well from the midcourt between Becky Lamb (WA) and Alice Willoughby (C) into the circle and the capable hands of Elena Reid (GA) and Ella Webster (GS).

The first quarter ended with Balla taking a small three-goal lead.

In the second period, Ballasalla made good use of their substitutes and brought on fresh legs in the form of Megan Carey (WD) and Gemma White (GK) to put pressure on the Turbos attack.

Despite this, Turbos kept their cool and their defence in Freya Skillicorn (GD) and Lisa McMullin (GK) worked well together to get vital under post rebounds which Turbos attackers were able to capitalise on.

Turbos, despite an overall goal difference of two goals, won this quarter overall scoring eight times to Balla’s seven.

In the third period, Ballasalla continued to work hard and their attacking duo Janet Lawrinson (C) and Megan Carey (WA) linked well through to the midcourt to feed the ever-accurate Quinn (GA) and Kermode (GS) in the shooting circle.

Katie Wilson (Turbos WD) continued to apply defensive pressure and did her best along with Skillicorn (GD) and McMullin (GK) to disrupt the Balla attack.

At the end of this period, Ballasalla led the match by 25 goals to Turbos’ 17.

In the final quarter, Balla’s fresh and rested legs came into their own as Turbos, who were missing key players through injury and illness - therefore limited in their options - began to tire. At the end of this quarter, Ballasalla triumphed 32-21, with player of the match going to Amelia Quinn (Ballasalla Charlie).

Division Two

Suntera Global Ballasalla

Echo 23, Ramsey Red 12

This was always going to be a hard match for Ramsey Reds with Ballasalla being higher in the division, but the northerners refused to go down without a fight.

The match started out with Ballasalla making the first point. Both teams then had great strength in defence, with Emma Vondy (Ramsey) and Shrav Sivakumar (Ballasalla) each challenging their opposition’s attackers.

The teams matched each other until the end of the quarter and the score remained level at 4-4.

The second period started off with both Sophie Long (Ballasalla) and Charlie Callow-Moore (Ballasalla) finding their flow, while Ava Brown (Ramsey) ran tirelessly across the court trying to get every interception she could.

Kitty Thomas (Ballasalla) did this as well, making both teams play at their best, but at half-time, the southerners had moved into the lead 12-6.

Going into the third quarter, both made changes in their teams.

Ballasalla chased and collected any loose balls and some great rebounds from Daisy Downs (Ballasalla) meant that by the end of the quarter the score was 20-7 to the latter’s side.

The final period started with Louise Tebay (Ramsey) and Isla Gale (Ramsey) both fighting incredibly well, gaining point after point.

More goals from Ramsey linked increased defensive pressure in all areas of the court which led to the northerners scoring more points in the last quarter than Ballasalla, but the goal difference was too wide to bridge.

Both teams worked incredibly well up to the final whistle but Ballasalla thoroughly deserved their win with the final score being 23-12.

Player of the match went to Sophie Long of Ballasalla Echo.

The netball community was saddened to learn of the death of Judi Clark-Wilson last week, a stalwart of the Manx game who helped set up the

local leagues back in 1984.

A full tribute to Judi will appear in next week’s edition of the Manx Independent.