GRASSHOPPER HOPES OF WIN ‘FLY SOUTH’ AGAINST DERBYSHIRE ‘GATE

Sunday (22nd January) saw top of the table Southgate clash with Grasshopper NC. Having missed key players for their previous game’s loss, Southgate brought in their ‘big guns’ for this match, and got off to a flying start. Their fast, slick moves and sharp shooting saw them lead 13-6 by the end of the first quarter.

Grasshopper Coach, Anne Melling, changed things around after the first 15 minutes, bringing on Laura Scigliano at GD, Kara Kataiwai at WA and Katie Long at GA. The changes, alongside superb defending (and in particularly by GK, Tracy Glover, who won the ‘Player of the Match’ award), meant Grasshoppers were more evenly matched. They only lost that quarter 10-8 (meaning 23-14 down overall).

No Grasshopper changes were made at half time, but unfortunately, the team lost their rhythm and struggled to successfully bring the ball into their attacking area. Loose feeds into the attackers were also picked off by Southgate’s very strong, physical defence. Grasshoppers lost this quarter 14-6.
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For the last quarter, Coach Melling brought back Stacie Racz at GS, Hannah Wale at WA and Amy Brennan at C, and moved versatile Sofi Mills back into GD. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. The final score was 54-27. Despite defeat, Grasshopper NC secured a very valuable bonus point.