Leeds produced an efficient display to see off a determined York team, in a high tempo game where tempers occasionally ran even higher. York battled bravely throughout, but eventually the visitors prevailed by a nine goal margin.
In an incredibly even starting quarter, Leeds opened the scoring, but York hit back straight away as a shot from goal attack Amy Moll found the net, and this was how it was to continue throughout the quarter, Leeds scored, then York would peg them back immediately. Then, with the scores at 5-5, York took the upper hand to go up 6-5, only for Leeds to score two before the break, meaning York ended the quarter down by six goals to seven.
Upon the restart, however, Leeds shocked their opponents with a large injection of pace into their game, upping the tempo considerably and catching York by surprise, pulling away with three quick goals to make it 10-6. York fought back, and reduced the deficit with an excellent looping shot from the edge of the goal circle by goal shooter Olivia Rainey. But Leeds continued to extend what would prove to be a sustained lead, and one could feel that this was a pivotal point in the match for York if they could not find the equalising goals which, earlier in the match, proved so available to them.
By the end of the second quarter and at the beginning of the third, York had altered their game to contend with the increase in pace by Leeds, and things had settled into a similar groove as the one at the beginning, except, instead of scoring one and conceding one each, Leeds more often than not, managed to secure two before York could reply, slowly but steadily dragging the game out of York’s reach. The game started to become very end-to-end as both teams became stretched, and tempers began to heat up as the Leeds wing defence received a stern warning from the match official, after articulating her dissatisfaction over what she saw as a poor decision.
Though, following this, York put together a fine passing move after a very astute interception by goal defence Grace Clarke, culminating in a good finish from Amy Moll. However, by this point, things were looking desperate for York, as Leeds looked to double their opponents’ tally. York were playing some good netball at this point though, and although, at 20-12, Leeds were playing aggressively to try to double up on York, three goals for the home team, including a beautiful shot from the edge of the goal circle by Olivia Rainey, ensured that Leeds could not increase the deficit come the end of the third, with the scores at 23 – 15.
The fourth quarter began with a York substitution, with Moll, struggling with an ankle injury, coming off to be replaced by Sarah Pickup, who took up the goal shooter position, with Rainey moving into goal attack. And York’s new-look team had barely been on the field a minute before a stoppage in the match, with tempers threatened to flare again, as the referees instructed both team captains to gather their sides and calm them down.
So, after a few minutes, the game restarted, with Olivia Rainey wasting no time in dispatching another great shot from the very edge of the goal circle and this was swiftly followed by a first goal for Pickup. However, any attempt to gain momentum was quickly snuffed out as Leeds hit straight back with two of their own, pulling the their lead back to ten goals at 27 – 17. At this late stage, with legs tiring, the game was very stretched again, with a flurry of chances at both ends. York goal keeper Rachel Bunce, was enjoying an excellent spell at this point, which included a brilliantly caught interception and consistently rising above the Leeds forwards and collecting a number of difficult rebounds to stop a second shot coming in.
York held on in the final period and managed to reduce the final deficit to nine, however, Leeds ultimately claimed victory, running out 30 – 21 winners. York, though, by no means took the defeat lying down, harrying their opponents ’til the final whistle, and never going too long without a goal. In spite of the result there are many positives to take from this match, as the team looks to future fixtures. After the match vice-captain Amy Moll commented: “everyone put in their maximum effort and considering the Leeds side are two leagues above us, the girls put in a valiant team performance”. Although, knocked out of the Cup, the girls can now focus on, what is now their main priority, the BUCS league and hope to fight to a victory next week against Teeside’s seconds.
Vision MOTM: Grace Clarke