TEAM JETS had to settle for a win and a loss in their opening weekend doubleheader.
‘Overall, we are disappointed,’ said head coach Linda Andrews.
‘Having won our first game with relative ease and started the second game that well, consecutive wins were there for the taking.
‘We have to credit Hucclecote, however. After we started well, they made some key adjustments and we didn’t adapt well enough to cope.
‘I was proud of the girls’ fight and, after a tough third quarter, they kept their heads up and finished with a strong last quarter.
‘It shows the fitness is there early season, which bodes well for us moving forward.’
Opening up against Pinehurst, Linda Andrews’ side controlled proceedings from the word go and the game proved far more comfortable than the ten-point victory suggested.
Debuts were handed to Aimee Bourke and Taylor-Mai Dickson, who became Jet numbers 52 and 53 respectively.
After a tough first quarter, Andrews introduced Kat Le Riche and Jodie Blampied in goal defence and wing defence, moves which proved telling and turned the tide in favour of the Jets.
They rallied from 14-17 down after the first quarter to take a commanding nine-point lead after the third.
A mature final quarter saw the Islanders finish as comfortable 66-56 winners.
However, Hucclecote Comets provided the Island side with a sterner test the following day.
Goal shooter Emily Green highlighted how much Serena Kersten’s presence around the squad again had impacted training.
There had, she said, been a greater emphasis placed on conditioning in an effort to succeed on gruelling weekends with consecutive matches, and the pain is clearly reflecting on court.
The mainland side found themselves down early to the swarming Jets and were at risk of being left behind.
However, some savvy adjustments turned the game on its head and suddenly it was Andrews’ team who found themselves struggling to live with the revitalised Comets.
A strong third quarter left the Caesareans in a bind and, despite winning the final quarter 15-10, it was not enough to claw the deficit back, and the tie finished 48-41 in favour of Hucclecote.
Andrews said: ‘There were plenty of positives for us to take forward, but we need to be better at adapting our play depending on our opponent.
‘We have to be proud that we forced them to change their game plan, which put them under the cosh, but there’s plenty to work on in countering the different tests we will face.
‘I’m massively proud of Becca Forrest, who earned player of the game for both matches, which is an incredible feat.’
The Jets are now preparing for another doubleheader this weekend against Premier Romans and Poole.
