Weekend Results. Part 3 - Netball

Obviously I didn't play netball this weekend because I was busy running around the island, but Angela's team was challenging SCOPA for the shield.

This was not something that she was looking forward to - they have never beaten SCOPA and the games have never been close. When I arrived they were in the 2nd quarter and I was surprised to see that the score was quite close. Then I got a bigger surprise when I found out that they were actually leading!! The game was very exciting, they were playing well getting lots of turnovers and scoring their goals. At half time they still had the lead (maybe 4 goals?). I don't think they could believe it. Could they do the unthinkable and take the shield off SCOPA?! Unfortunately not. Although they played really well they ended up going down 45-40. It was a really good effort - probably the best game they have played.

As for the men's team - we were playing GM Bakery, the team that took the shield off us. I didn't get to see the game, but apparently we didn't play so well and ended up losing by 10 goals.

There are the usual dramas going on with the netball. The men's association are all squabbling about the way the playoffs have been done. When the draw was first published it showed 7 weeks of round robin games then the top 4 having playoffs over 2 weeks - a semi final then grand final. Apparently now the top 4 will have another mini round robin where they will play each other over 3 weeks. I am not sure what is happening now, I don't know if we have 2 more games or 1 more. At this stage everyone in our team seems to be more interested in the end of season party than the games we have left to play!

The other drama on Saturday involved the game that Angela was umpiring. The poor thing, she gets given all of the tough games. This one was between 2 of the strongest mens teams - SCOPA and Marist. There has been a history of 'trouble' between these teams. One of the Marist players in particular can get a bit worked up and last year was actually banned from the courts for 2 weeks following an incident after his Marist team had been beaten by SCOPA. During the game this week he was sent off by the other umpire. Angela isn't exactly sure what for, but according to the boys he was swearing at the umpire in Samoan. After the game he again got a bit worked up and apparently was threatening to throw a chair at the umpire. So I guess just like last year he will be banned again.