Issue 152

Net good enough

12th February 2007

A depleted Glamorgan side escaped from Sketty with a slender 3 point victory, in an uninspiring fixture. In an evenly contested match, Glamorgan finally established some superiority late in the 4th quarter, rendering it impossible for the Swans to fight back, who themselves were the victims of some dreadful misfortune in front of the basket.

It had all looked so different in the early going, with Swansea racing into a 4- 0 lead, and looking fairly comfortable against a lacklustre Glamorgan outfit, capable of only adding 1 substitute in their squad.

The Swans were dominant in attack, and solid in defence, with (GK) repelling any Glamorgan advances. The quarter drew to a close with the home side leading 9-4, and doing so at a canter.

The game ultimately turned in the 2nd quarter as Glamorgan began to up their game and force their way back into the game. Swansea made a tactical change at the beginning with wing-attack Lucy Daley reverting to centre, and NEW WA coming off the bench. Unfortunately, they could do nothing to stem the tide, as Glamorgan were fast and crisp, gliding around the court and reducing the arrears to 11-9 in favour of the Swans.

Further tactical alterations from the Swans did little to thwart their Welsh counterparts in the 3rd period, and they duly assumed the lead for the first time in the game, courtesy of a double obstruction from both GK at goalkeeper, and GD at goal-defence, allowing the Glamorgan shooter a free effort at the basket, a chance she didn't pass up. Both sides then exchanged baskets, with Swansea managing to restore parity in the game, by the close of the period, with the scores at 15 a piece.

The final period looked fairly evenly matched with both teams seemingly unable to find the net.

Swansea had seen numerous near-misses before Glamorgan eventually forced their way into the lead, and they duly saw the game out.

Sam Pettit