IN a massive weekend for Regional League 1, Team Jets suffered a nail-biting 59-60 defeat to promotion rivals Poole, knocking the Islanders off top spot for the first time this season.
This weekend saw the Jets face just one game, which was originally scheduled to be played in Jersey.
However, Rosie Tonner and her side travelled to play third-placed Poole in what was already deemed a huge clash in both teams’ fortunes this campaign.
After suffering their first defeat of the season last weekend to Hucclecote Comets, they suffered their second defeat on Sunday at the hands of a tall and fast-moving Poole side.
Team Jets coach Emily Green was full of praise for her side’s effort, despite the defeat.
“The Poole game came right down to the final buzzer. It was such a close match.
“They’re such a talented side, they have such height on offence and they move the ball extremely quickly in transition, they made it really hard for us.
“It was also such a physical game, I don’t think I’ve seen a more physical game before.
“We were in a real dogfight, but our girls were just outstanding. I think our gym training has really been paying off to be able to handle them.
“It was definitely the toughest match we have had this season, but we know we could have got more out of it.
“Around half-time we were actually leading by seven. We just had a few minutes where we weren’t at our best and we let them back into the game.
“A few decisions went against us and we made a couple of sloppy errors, but we know if we had been consistent throughout the game we could have definitely come away with the win.
“As good a side as Poole are, we know they will be so nervous to come and play us again next time.
“We showed so much improvement from just one training session of trying some new things, so we know we will be in a much better place to handle them come the reverse fixture.
“It’s looking likely to be the two of us pushing for promotion this season, so every game from now until that rematch is absolutely crucial.
“We got a bonus point for finishing within five points of their score, but we need to make sure when we do play Poole again that we beat them by six points or more.
“Every one of those bonus points will add up towards the end of this season.
“But I cannot fault the girls one bit, everyone played incredibly well and absolutely emptied their tanks in that game. I’m extremely proud of each and every one of them.”
Over in Regional League 3 however, Team Jets 2 were showing their first team how it was done with two clinical victories.
The young squad secured an emphatic 66-42 win over Bath Cougars on the Saturday, followed up with an equally impressive, albeit tighter 45-51 victory over Team Bath B.
This keeps them top of the division, three points clear of Crossbow in second place.
Coach Green continued: “This was a really exciting weekend for Jersey netball.
“For both teams to be on court and playing well at the same time is a testament to the strength in depth we are producing at the moment and our output on court is proving that.
“The Bath Cougars game was really close in the first half. We let them into the game a bit just before half time.
“I think we got a bit frustrated by the noise in the hall from their crowd and the excitement. They really used that to their advantage.
“We were the better team so we were frustrated at half-time knowing we had given our advantage away a bit.”
The second half they looked like a team possessed however, as Green continued: “We changed it up a bit for the second half, I myself came off, Pia [Gurner] moved to GS and Lara [Spary] moved from WA to GA.
“That combination was so dynamic and they moved around each other brilliantly. My style was a bit more holding, but their rotational work as a pair was excellent.
“Their ability to find space so fluidly meant our speed of pass could increase and it completely turned our game around.
“I think there was just one goal in it at half-time, but our girls came out flying after the break. It was really clinical.
“We penetrated the court so well and the shooters were offering beautifully with perfect timing.
“Meanwhile, at the other end, Katie [Doyle] and Summer [Watkins] were putting their attackers under huge pressure. I don’t think that pair has played too much together but they took their roles in their stride and bounced off each other brilliantly.”
Moving to Sunday’s clash with Team Bath B, Green described a much different contest.
“Sunday was a tricky game to manage. We had Toni [Chaytor] with us, but we didn’t want to play her too much as we knew she was required for the RL1 match later that day.
“We had to figure out a team from the seven of us really. Although the group hadn’t played together much before, all the girls have come through the Jets programme and know what is expected of them.
“Bath had a massive squad to use, so we knew we had to be smart with our output against a really fast and physical Bath team so as not to burn out too quick.
“It was neck and neck at the end of each quarter, it was pretty relentless and mentally exhausting.
“Mollie [Luce] and Lara [Spary] really stood out with their fitness. They had to play pretty much the whole game and they did superbly. Mollie’s leadership was fantastic and her communication was so clear.
“We managed to get a five-goal lead in the final quarter and we just had to hold onto the ball, which we did really effectively.
“We did have Katie [Doyle] sent off after an unfortunate clash right at the end, so to only have six players for the last two minutes was really tense.
“But the girls held on brilliantly, they showed such fight and character not to lose our lead and see the game through.
“It got really rough and aggressive towards the end as you can imagine, but the girls were so stubborn and made sure they did everything they could not to let them steal the win from us.
“It was a really cool game to come back for me personally after some time away from playing, but I loved it and both RL1 and RL3 teams continue to grow each week.
“The whole Jets programme is in a great place right now and I’m excited for these games to keep coming and to see how far we can go this season.”
Team Jets: Rosie Tonner (c), Lily Jones, Emily Le Gros, Emily Green, Maddie Fitzgerald-Wilkins, Nicole Goddard, Toni Chaytor, Jodie Blampied, Sam Salzone, Molly Carre, Becca Forrest
Team Jets 2: Mollie Luce (c), Emily Green, Pia Gurner, Lara Spary, Hope Jordan, Toni Chaytor, Isabella Lofthouse, Katie Doyle, Summer Watkins, Imogen Taylor
