A second defeat to November conquerors Team Bath A would have all but ended the Island club’s hopes of making an immediate return to the England Netball’s national pyramid, but they began the calendar year with two convincing wins to reduce the deficit at the top of South West Regional League Division I.
Jets forged 89 shooting attempts for themselves against Whitchurch on Saturday on their way to a comfortable 70-33 success, before cutting a hefty slice of revenge yesterday morning with a 56-39 win against Bath. Teenage goal-defence Molly Carré was named Jets’ player of the match on both occasions.
The Islanders – beaten by Aquarians in October – lost 57-49 to Bath before the Christmas break, taking the title chase, and promotion, out of their hands.
‘The first half against Whitchurch was just brilliant and they continued like that all weekend,’ said head coach Linda Andrews. ‘They played with so much confidence in each other … they were just awesome.
‘It was interception city. Every time the ball went anywhere near the defensive unit they linked together and Molly was coming out with the ball. As a unit Jacy [Brown, centre] and Nicole [Goddard, wing-defence] were setting things up and Molly was plucking them out of the air. And “Bolly” [Gabriella Martin] forced so many balls over the back line, they did an incredible job together.
‘We were 42-15 up at half-time against Whitchurch and that gave us a platform to introduce other players, who grew in confidence. And because we’d won so well on Saturday we went into the Bath game with a positive mindset and once again the starting seven produced the goods for us.’
Jets were 28-16 to the good at the end of Q2 and Andrews introduced fresh legs. It slowed their momentum – Bath took Q3 14-11 – but the result was hardly in danger.
Andrews added: ‘It’s two wins and the manner in which we did it was excellent.
‘We managed to break Bath down and not divert off track.’
Jets – eight points adrift – still need a favour from one of their rivals if they are to leapfrog Aquarians and take the sole promotion-playoff spot.
