Isle of Man Netball senior league match reports from games played on Sunday, January 23:

Premiership Division.

Thompson Travel 1 - 22,

Simcocks Blue Eagles 38

Thompson 1 v Simcocks Blue is always a well-contested match and, with the former narrowly taking the win last time the teams met, it was going to be a good battle.

The first quarter started with fast pace and both teams were evenly matched, finishing 7-all.

As the second quarter started, the fast pace continued and the Simcocks defence really started to put pressure on the Thompson shooting circle of Georgia Harding (GS) and Sam Dunn (GA), making timely interceptions for successful conversions at the other end.

Thompson used the half-time break as a chance to bring some fresh legs on, which had an immediate effect. Ella Clague (WA) linked well with Ella Crowe (C) in the middle of the court for Fern Christian (GA) and Georgia Harding to convert well.

Although the final score saw Simcocks Blue take the win, the excellent defence of Anne-Marie Crompton (GK), Molly Christian (GD) and Mika Chen (WD) ensured lots of turnover ball and half points for the girls in purple.

The player of the match award went to Mackenzie Pizzey for Simcocks Blue Eagles.

Championship

Young Farmers 30,

Simcocks Green Eagles 17

Both teams started well and play was even throughout the first quarter, but towards the end Farmers showed some good attacking play and they pulled ahead by a few goals, the score standing 9-5 to them at the end of the opening period.

Farmers really upped their game in the second quarter, putting pressure on Simcocks. Young Farmers’ great defence of Cheryl Curphey (GK) and Lucy Parsons (GD) caused problems for Simcocks shooters Emily Osbourn (GS) and Hannah Skehan (GA) in the circle and they increased their lead to 18-9.

After the half-time break, Young Farmers continued to extend their advantage with some great play all the way down the court, bringing the ball to the shooters in the circle where Sam Curphey (GS) and Danni Kelly (GA) were able to convert their shots.

This meant that Farmers led 24-13 at the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter, both teams continued to play well but the final score ended 30-17 to Young Farmers. Player of the match went to a well-deserved Abby Jackson from Young Farmers.

Division One

Marbree Missfits C 28,

Atla Group Panthers 20

This match set out to be a close one, with both teams sitting on 14 points in the league standings.

With an almost goal-for-goal start it was Marbree Missfits who had the edge, entering the second quarter three goals ahead.

Both teams’ defences were pushed hard but Marbree’s shooting duo of Sophie Wade (GS) and Tara Murphy (GA) worked seamlessly together to convert their shots into goals.

No changes were made in the first half by either team in what was a very evenly-matched game, despite Marbree Missfits leading 17-10 at the halfway point.

Panthers pulled it back in the third quarter with some great play, bringing the score very close. There were some great interceptions from Panthers’ Jess Edmonds (GD) which had the potential to turn the lead.

But fresh legs in Emma Riley (C) helped Missfits power through in the final quarter. There was some excellent play through centre court from Panthers’ Helen Gibson (C) and Mandy Hunter (WA) who worked tirelessly to get the ball into their shooting circle.

There were some excellent drives from Marbree Missfits’ Rachel Kewley (WA) who, along with Riley (C), fed well-timed passes into Wade (GS) who rarely missed a shot. Marbree Missfits’ defence of Helen Watney (GK) and Suzanne Gray (GD) worked hard to contest every ball to the final whistle.

The score ended 28-20 to Marbree with player of the match going to Missfits’ Murphy.

Division Two

Castletown Vikings 6, Suntera Global Ballasalla Frosts 28

Castletown Vikings won the toss, with the first centre pass being taken by Sofia Douglas.

Despite only having six players for the first quarter, Ballasalla came out fighting, with Jema Richardson (C) working extra hard to bring the ball down to the shooters in the absence of a wing attack. The first quarter finished 3-1 to Ballasalla.

The second period saw Ballasalla extend their lead - now with a full team - as Freya Jones (C) and Richardson (WA) worked well together to bring the ball down court.

But not without a good fight from Castletown’s defence in the midcourt, with Sofia Douglas (C) and Amy Bloch (WD) getting some good deflections throughout the second quarter which finished 9-3 to Ballasalla.

The latter side came out strong again in the third quarter and, although Castletown’s shooters Kirsty McConnell (GS) and Macy Hillier (GA) worked well together in the D, the defence trio of Brintha Yasodaran (GK), Amy Gelling (GD) and Alicia Kewley (WD) had a great quarter and were able to turn over a lot of ball for Ballasalla.

The third quarter finished 18-5 to them.

Ballasalla carried their momentum into the fourth quarter, continuing to extend their lead as their shooters Lily Gell (GS) and Sophie Radcliffe (GA) remained strong throughout the final period.

Castletown fought until the end, with their defence Olivia Cregeen (GK) and Phoebe Roosen (GD) working hard against their opponent’s shooters up to the final whistle, but Ballasalla were unmatched in the final quarter, winning the quarter 10-1.

Overall, the match finished 28-6 to Ballasalla, with a well-deserved player of the match going to Amy Gelling.