SPORTSREACH NETBALL CUP/PLATE 2018

Wednesday 25^th April saw the Cup Semi finals and the Plate Quarterfinals being played at Ripley. And what a great night of netball we had!

 After the nail biting finishes for the England team in the Commonwealth games both Cup semi finals followed a very similar pattern.  First up was WildCats v TopCats. They finished 2^nd and 3^rd in the league and they served up at a great match.  WildCats got their noses in front in a very low scoring first quarter with both defences standing strong.  In the second and third quarters WildCats continued to keep a couple of goals ahead as both attacks began to score more freely with some fantastic netball being played by both teams. At the start of the last quarter WildCats had a 5 goal lead but with TopCats making a few tactical adjustments they slowly pulled the lead back and levelled the scores at 19 – 19 with seconds left! Into 5 minutes of extra time and still the two teams could not be separated with both scoring alternately with TopCats this time being in the lead only to be pegged back with seconds left.  21 – 21 at the end of extra time and we went straight into ‘Golden Goal’! Both teams had a couple of chances before Wildcats scored the all-important goal to take them through to the final.

Onto the second semi final between the league winners Diamonds and 4^th place Royals.  Again we were to see another close and competitive match, which also went to the wire.  Diamonds began strongly and scored 4 goals in quick succession without reply and looked like they were going to stretch away into a strong lead.  Royals then scored 3 to go into the first break only a goal behind. A similar pattern followed in the next two quarters with Diamonds stretching their lead only for Royals to finish each quarter stronger and pull back to with in a couple of goals.  Great play again from both teams.  Into the last quarter with Diamonds a couple of goals ahead and looking to see out a victory but like TopCats in the previous semi final Royals began to pull the deficit back and entering the last minute they levelled the score at 31 – 31.  It seemed as if we would be heading for extra time again with the clock running out when Royals took the lead for the first time in the match 31 – 32 and as Diamonds took the following centre and got the ball into the shooting circle they lost possession and when the ball re-entered play time was up leaving a jubilant Royals looking forward to a final v WildCats.  If it lives up to the quality, speed and entertainment of the semi finals, then we are in for a great game!  Well played everyone.

 One of the messages in between the games saw one of the umpires share their testimony and what Jesus means to them.  Sharing how although he was privileged to have been brought up in a Christian family and taken to a good church, he still needed to make a personal commitment for himself.  After a rebellious couple of years mid teens, he addressed the two fears that he had – the first of death, as he knew he wouldn’t go to heaven.  The second of Jesus coming again as he knew he wasn’t ready. At 16 he got on his knees and asked Jesus to forgive him and He did and transformed his life.  No longer any fear of death or of Jesus coming again as now he was ready!  The players were encouraged to look to Jesus as He can and does help with any fear and to let any barriers down that they may have in their lives and receive Jesus as He is the only way to God.

Another derby was also played in the plate with the two Westhouse teams battling against each other for a place in the Plate Semi Finals. It was a great game played in great spirit by both teams, with Thunder coming out on top winning 42-26, to set up an exciting semi final against Chipping MereCats who beat Preston Swallows 38-20. The other Plate Semi Final will be contested between STY:LE, who overcame a spirited Lancaster Lions, and Babybelles who went through as a result of Pantherwrays unfortunately having to forfeit the game.

Cup Semi Final Results:

Chipping WildCats 22-21 Chipping TopCats;

Garstang Diamonds 31-32 Lancaster Royals;

Plate Quarter Final Results:

Pantherwrays vs Babybelles (Pantherwrays forfeited);

Chipping MereCats 38-20 Preston Swallows;

Lancaster Lions 18-25 STY:LE;

Westhouse Thunder 42-26 Westhouse Lightning;

CUP FINAL:

Chipping WildCats vs Lancaster Royals;

PLATE SEMI FINALS:

Chipping MereCats vs Westhouse Thunder;

Babybelles vs STY:LE;