FALCONS YELLOW EARN THEMSELVES A DRAW AGAINST A TENACIOUS NOTTINGHAM KNIGHTS

Falcons Yellow stepped on court ready to battle again and a battle it was until the final whistle. The starting line-up was the winning team from last week - Alex Wood-Davis (GS), Kerri Moorhouse (GA), Jo Holt (WA), Mel Brennan (C), Tamsin Mason (WD), Samantha Brown (GD), Beth Jackson (GK) with Rebecca Simms and Connie Xavier on the bench.

The game started with Knights scoring first. Falcons Yellow came back with a turnover though. Some great defensive work from Brown, Mason and Jackson was on display, whilst at the other end of the court and following great feeds from both Holt and Brennan, excellent shooting from Wood-Davis and Moorhouse was also witnessed.

Falcons Yellow went in the first break five goals to the good at 17-12 but Nottingham Knights came back in the second quarter meaning the Derbyshire-based team led by a solitary goal at half time (27-26).

The second half forced Falcons Yellow into some changes. Simms replaced Holt at WA and Holt replaced Jackson at GK. The team was slow to get off the mark after the break and also adapt to the changes and Knights took the initiative, applying continuous pressure. Brennan worked tirelessly at Centre and Simms made an admirable contribution to the attack with some outstanding and pinpoint feeding into Wood-Davis and Moorhouse, who took their shooting opportunities well. Moorhouse worked hard, constantly creating space and making herself available. But it was not enough to keep Knights at bay. Falcons lost the quarter by six goals 12-18 and were now five goals adrift 39-42.

Falcons made further changes for the final quarter with Jackson returning to the court at GK and Holt replacing Mason at WD, who had worked tirelessly in support of the circle defence. It was now time to see what Falcons were made of. Knights battled hard to keep Falcons at bay and to hang onto their lead but with a never-say-die attitude and with some superb defending by Brown and Jackson in the circle, Falcons were able to claw their way back to within two goals with a minute or so on the clock.

Falcons Yellow then turned the ball over to draw level with Knights. Errors crept in from both sides as the ball went up and down the court but in the closing seconds Falcons took the initiative with yet another turnover at the most crucial of moments. The clock was running down fast though and it was a race against time to get the ball into Falcons’ attacking third. In the end, the whistle blew before Falcons were able to capitalise and claim their second win but it was a great display in the final quarter to claim it 13-8.

The final score Falcons Yellow 52 -52 Nottingham Knights – a fair result in the end.

It was hard to choose a ‘Player of the Match’ but for the second time, it had to go to Moorhouse, with Wood-Davis a close second.