Omega Netball Club News

Omega 2 meet top of Division 1 table, Turnford 4 in the 2nd half of the Herts County League games.   Having been robbed of the win in the first half of the season, Omega were keen to secure the win this time round.

Emma Faulkner and Ruby Brett took the bench for the 1st quarter and the  game started well with Omega defending strongly from C, Nicola Rantell through to Andrea Kinninmonth at GK,  keeping the score tight in the opening quarter.  GD, Sam Abbott was on fire, turning the game over on 6 occasions to give Omega a great head-start on the game and an early lead by the end of the 1st quarter, with a score of 12-10 to Omega.

A one-part change sees Nicola Rantell take the bench, replaced in C by Emma Faulkner.  The second quarter was once again matched play with accuracy in the shooting displayed by both teams, but Omega once again had the edge on Turnford and managed to maintain control, enabling them to increase their lead by a further 4 goals by end of the 1st half of the game, giving them the advantage going into the second half, with a score of 26-22.

Another change for the third quarter, sees Nicola return to the C position and Emma Faulkner moving to WD, as Molly Brett takes the bench.  The third quarter saw Turnford return to court determined to give all they had to keep them in the game.   Omega were not so hot on the turnarounds and Turnford put the pressure on the Omega attack, resulting in the shooting accuracy taking a hit.  Turnford managed to claw back the goal deficit by end of the quarter, equalising the score at 36-36 for the final quarter.

A whole lot of changes to the team in an attempt to change the team dynamics,  sees Andrea Kinninmonth taking the bench, replaced by Hannah Brown in GK and Ruby Brett taking her GS position from Hannah.  Additional changes saw Leanne Mansfield take the bench, replaced at WA by Molly Brett.   The changes proved costly for the team as they were unsettled and struggled adapt the passing and feeds for the new setup…lesson learnt for future!  Turnford took advantage of this and took the lead for the first time in the game,  which they held on to, to the end.  The final score was 47-41 to Turnford, but this time round, they deserved the result.

For the first time all season, Omega have a squad of 12 for their 2nd round fixture against Watford Premier, who they beat by just one goal in the 1st half of the season.  The squad know it won’t be an easy game, but are ready to give their all.

The starting team being GS – Hannah Brown; GA – Sophie Humphry; WA – Leanne Mansfield; C – Nicola Rantell; WD – Molly Brett; GD – Sam Abbott and GK – Louise Cousins.  On the bench are Emma Faulkner, Andrea Kinninmonth and welcoming back for their first Herts League game after the birth of each of their 2nd child, Emma Maidment and Lucy Andrews.

Watford Prem start the game and Omega are tense.  The team take some time to settle and the nerves are apparent as we miss shots and make errors.  However, some great interceptions are seen by Nicola Rantell, Molly Brett, Sam Abbott and Sophie Humphry, but as soon as we gain the ball, we swiftly return it to the opposition.  With a score of 10-9 to Watford Prem, Omega have the opportunity to equalise as they closely mark the opposition, forcing a held ball call, however we don’t capitalise on this advantage and Watford maintain the lead to the end of the quarter.  With 5 seconds remaining, Omega have the final centre pass, but they have failed to note the limited time and as a result, miss the opportunity to fast-track the ball to the shooters and the quarter ends 12-13 to Watford.

A change at quarter time sees Nicola Rantell take the bench and Emma Faulkner picking up the C position.   Watford Prem have the opening centre pass once more, but it’s Omega who take the first goal to equalise the score.   Omega take their centre pass to goal, but a missed shot sees the ball back with the opposition and the tables turned.  Some clean interceptions by Molly Brett, Sam Abbott and Leanne Mansfield sees the ball returned to the shooters and each rewarded for their efforts,  with a goal from our shooters.  Omega take the lead and are up by 3 goals midway through the quarter, but Watford Prem are feisty and fight back to take back the lead once more.  Omega make more errors than intercepts this quarter, but manage to keep the goal difference to 1 goal by half time, with a score of 28-29 to Watford.

A big change at half time, sees Hannah and Sophie taking the bench, replaced by Ruby Brett and Emma Maidment in the shooting circle.  Additionally, Leanne Mansfield is replaced at WA by Lucy Andrews, Molly Brett is replaced at WD by Nicola Rantell and Hannah Brown moves to the opposite end of the court, replacing Louise Cousins at GK.   For the first time in the game, Omega start the play and are successful in taking the first goal.    Ruby Brett, our youngest player,  settles well into the GS position, with great inter-passing from Emma Maidment at GA and it looks to be a great start.   The team struggle to turn the game to their advantage, but fight hard to contain their opponents and turnover the game on 7 occasions, with great intercepts by Nicola, Lucy and Sam, but we also loose the ball on 9 occasions, which allows Watford to increase their lead by a further goal.

The final quarter and Omega are 2 down and another big change around of the team in the last ditch attempt to change up the dynamics sees Andrea Kinninmonth taking the court for the final quarter, replacing Hannah Brown as GK, Lucy Andrews moving to C, Leanne returning to WA, Emma Faulkner moving from C to WD and Sam Abbott replaced at GD by Nicola Rantell.    Both teams are aware that the game is likely to go to the wire and neither team are ready to be defeated.   Omega manage to equalise the score on a couple of occasions and finally take the lead by mid quarter, but only by 1 or 2 goals.  Contact calls against Nicola outside the circle, sees Andrea covering both shooters, but she manages to keep her feet moving around the players and drives forward to intercept the pass, gaining possession for the team on a couple of occasions.    The final score is a deja vu moment, with Omega taking the game by 1 goal, which is exactly what happened in the 1st half fixtures between both teams.  This resulted in Omega having a 9 point lead on Watford Prem on the league tables, sitting comfortably in 4th position, levelling on points with 3rd place, SAS who have a slight lead on goal difference by just 2 goals.

The first game of the second half of the season and it’s the rematch between Omega 2 and Equals.  Both teams are mid table, with Omega sitting just 2 places above Equals at the end of the 1st half of the season.

The start of the game is Equal’s but a missed shot by their shooter is rebounded by GK, Louise Cousins and the team take the ball to the circle, but the ball is lost and Equals take it back to their shooter, who misses the shot once more and a second rebound by Louise gives Omega another chance, which this time, GS, Hannah Brown succeeds in converting, giving the first goal of the game to Omega.   A chance to take the next goal and an early lead is missed as a held ball call at our centre pass proves fatal and Equals punish.  Both teams battle hard to gain the goal advantage and Omega’s WA, Leanne Mansfield shows great determination, tipping the ball at Equal’s centre pass, but can’t hold on to it and is called for ball-handling.  Next is an unforced error by Equals WD, who footworks and it’s Omega’s turn to gain from their error.  The quarter is tight until the final minutes, when a couple of errors with force-feeding and missed shots allows Equals to end the quarter with a 2-goal lead and score of 16-14.

A change at quarter time sees Emma Faulkner take the bench and Nicola Rantell picking up the centre position.  A great start to the quarter sees Omega clawing back the 2-goal deficit in the first three minutes, equalising the score 17-17, but the draw is short lived as Omega loose their centre pass and Equals capitalise on it.    Another error at our next centre pass allows our opposition to increase the lead once more as they punish every error with their accurate shooting.  The remainder of the quarter is neck and neck, with some great accuracy in shooting by GA, Ruby Brett, converting 100% of her shots.  A rebound by Louise Cousins gives the team an opportunity to close the lead but Equals read the pass mid court and steal the ball and the goal as a result.  The final 8 seconds of the quarter and first half, and WD, Molly Brett seizes the opportunity to lob the ball in to Hannah Brown, but with slightly more power behind the ball than needed, it goes off the goal-line.   The first half of the game ends with Equals still in the lead by 3 goals, with a score of 29-26.

The third quarter sees Ruby Brett taking the bench, replaced at GA by Emma Faulkner.    The quarter starts and Omega know the game is not lost and continue to contest the game.  Some great ball marking by WA, Leanne Mansfield on a sideline throw in, wins a held ball call as the marked player cannot find her team members.  The ball is linked well down to Hannah, who rewards the team with the goal.  Great circle defence by GD, Sam Abbott and GK, Louise Cousins results in Equals force-feeding their shooters, which goes off the goal-line.  Omega take the ball to their shooters again, but the ball is lost once more and Equals take the goal.    A great steal mid court by C, Nicola Rantell and the ball is taken to GS, Hannah Brown, who falls to the ground and calls time for an ankle injury, which results in her leaving the court and being replaced in GS by Ruby Brett.  Some great  turnovers by the mid-court players, Molly Brett, Nicola Rantell and Leanne Mansfield, coupled with accurate shooting by Emma Faulkner at GA, allows Omega to take the lead mid quarter with a score of 37-35.   The team work together to apply the pressure on the opposition and link well on the attack play, with more turnarounds by all players, than errors on display this quarter.   The final 2.30 mins on the clock and Omega loose their centre pass, which allows Equals to claw back the lead and equalise the score 40-40, but the team fight hard once more to gain back their lead.  The final 8 seconds on the clock and Omega loose possession of the ball and as defence have taken their eyes off their opposition, the ball finds Equals GA with ease, however she misses the final opportunity to equalise as she misses the shot and the quarter ends with a score of 42-41.

A final change to the team, with Hannah Brown returning to court, this time at the other end of the court at GK, replacing Louise Cousins who takes the bench.  One goal ahead going into the final quarter, but it’s Equals who restart the game, taking the first goal to equalise.  A missed shot by Omega sees us loose the ball, however Equals WD is called for ball handling and Omega gain another opportunity, but a fluffed pass in the shooting circle sees the ball back in the oppositions hands once more.   GD, Sam Abbott prevents Equals from capitalising on the goal, intercepting the pass at a crucial point and this time Omega take to goal.    With ten minutes remaining, Omega are up by 3 goals, but Equals are not giving up and manage to reduce the lead to just 1 goal once more.  The lead fluctuates again with Omega increasing to 3 goals and Equals reducing it back to 1.  The final minutes with 1 goal lead and it’s Equals centre pass, but they loose the ball off their goal line and Omega seize the chance to secure their lead and succeed in their mission.  1.30 remaining on the clock and another error by Equals sees the ball traverse the side-line and Omega gaining another goal to increase their lead.  10 secs to go and GK, Hannah Brown intercepts the ball in the circle and the team are swift to link the ball down court to their shooters.  An obstruction by Equals GK, sees Omega gaining a penalty shot on the final whistle.  As Emma takes the shot, Equals GD also obstructs, leaving a clear shot for Emma, who doesn’t disappoint!

An exciting, albeit sometimes scrappy first game, with displays of ups and downs in the play throughout.   Nevertheless, a great result, with the final score of 53-49 to Omega, which pushes them into fourth position on the division table and just one point behind third place, SAS Reds, who they play next week!

The final game of the 1st half of the season and it’s expected to be the toughest as Omega 2 meet the top of the Division 1 table, Abbey Flyers Nomads (AFN) Solar.

AFN start the game, but swiftly loose possession as their GA is called for held ball.  However, Omega fail to keep the ball mid court, but luck is on their side as the AFN WA footworks and this time Omega punish the error, taking the first goal.  In the opening minutes, Omega show the opposition that this is not going to be a walkover as they compete at every opportunity.  Each team make unforced errors this quarter and the game is neck and neck for majority of the time.  Superb defending by GK, Hannah Brown, playing out of position, sees her turning the game around 5 times in the quarter, giving the team ample opportunities to take an early lead, however the team make many errors with passing the ball and attempts at feeding the shooters which hinders their chances, resulting in AFN leading 11-8 by end of the quarter.

A change at quarter time sees GS, Ruby Brett taking the bench, Hannah Brown taking her position and Andrea Kinninmonth stepping into the role of GK after Hannah has set the bar high!   The start of the quarter is not Omega’s best as AFN take the first 4 goals, extending their lead even further.  Omega take time to settle, but succeed by mid quarter, with  strong defending by the team from C court to GK, resulting in 9 turnovers throughout the quarter.   Their determination and fight paying off, winning the quarter 17-11.

The team chat at half time highlights the congestion mid court on our attack play and solutions identified in an attempt to alleviate it.  The team are fired up to compete to the end and return to court prepared to give their all.  This quarter sees more unforced errors, with a couple of breaks on our centre-pass, footwork and a held ball call, but the score goes goal for goal throughout.  This is a better quarter for court play and moving the ball forward with fewer errors than the 1st half of the game, however AFN manage to claw back some goals, reducing the lead to just one goal going into the final quarter and a score of 35-34.

Omega are aware the final quarter will be tight and the chat is one of playing the safe ball and keeping possession to take to goal.  Both teams give their all as they fight to take the game.  The final minutes and Omega are still leading.   Confusion in the defence’s communication with the back-line pass and the AFN GS steals the ball and punishes with a goal, but Omega still have the upper hand.  The final minute and Omega fail to hold the lead as errors are made and AFN take the goals to equalise and it’s AFNs final centre pass with seconds remaining on the clock.  Omega know they need to defend hard and cleanly to prevent the goal.  They succeed in the challenge as AFN attempt to put up the shot, but the whistle blows and the shot is missed.

Omega are happy with the draw of 47-47 against the top of the table, allowing them to sit comfortably mid table by the end of the 1st half of the fixtures.