GRASSHOPPERS’ CLOSEST GAME YET!

Grasshopper Netball Club played Lincolnshire’s Sleaford Barge in the East Midlands Netball Regional League Division 2 game this week (28/10/12).

Grasshoppers took an early lead but Sleaford came back and by the end of the first quarter it was honours even at 15-15.

Grasshoppers’ coach, Anne Melling, made one defensive change for the second quarter – Fran Barney moved from Goal Defence (GD) to Goal Keeper (GK) with Stephanie Hiom taking up Barney’s old position and Tracey Glover giving way.

Another very closely contested fifteen minutes ensued during the second quarter. Once again Grasshoppers took the lead during the quarter but some loose passing up the court allowed Sleaford back into the game. At half time, the score was still tied at 27 goals each.

The Grasshoppers team remained unchanged for the third quarter, which was again very closely contested. Both sides played some stunning, explosive netball but Sleaford Barge just edged ahead, ending up leading by two goals going into the final fifteen minutes, with the score finely poised at 37-39.

During the final quarter, Grasshopper Netball Club feared that they were going to lose their player of the match, Donna Osborn, to injury because she ended up prone on court. Luckily, after taking the full two minutes allowed, Osborn recovered to continue her assault on the Sleaford defence. Unfortunately for Grasshoppers, the game started to run away from the team and Sleaford proved just too strong in the end. The opposition romped to victory 56 goals to 47 at the final whistle.

All-in-all, it was very well-contested game but still Grasshoppers chase their first, elusive victory.