WOMEN’S SECOND DIVISION
Cambridge lost to Ashcombe Dorking 10:25 15:25 14:25
Chesterton Sports Centre, Cambridge.
Sunday 26th February 2006
Despite both teams being depleted by seasonal illness and
injury, the promotion chasing visitors with a minimum six players proved much
too knowledgeable for the struggling hosts. Nevertheless, the skeleton eight
all played well, never gave up trying even when things looked impossible and
should be encouraged by their battling performance. There was, it has to be
said, a gulf in class between the sides but it is a result of experience and
practice as much as latent talent and the underdogs certainly demonstrated a
good measure of their potential even this late in the season.
Throwing off any disappointment from losing yesterday in
five sets to Tonbridge, Cambridge began well, taking an early lead. Ashcombe
had caught them by four all but struggled to take control. At 7:12 they began
to use more basic volleyball and the quality of their play took charge so much
that they eased through the rest of the set. Cambridge were not downhearted and
took an immediate lead in the second and were still ahead at 8:7. Both teams
were at their most adventurous and, for the spectator, this was the most
exciting part of the morning. Two good hits by England’s former captain, Ann
Jarvis: one cross-court and one down the line and both from the left flank,
then changed Ashcombe’s fortunes. They were now in the driving seat and gave
their hosts no opportunity to get back into the set.
Ashcombe alternated use of Carol Fogarty and Sara Neale as
play-maker and this aid to concentration served them in good stead in the third
when it would have been all too easy to become casual. Instead the opposite
happened and they raced away to a 1:8 lead showing Cambridge little mercy.
However, they did then relax a bit and, playing as well as at any time in the
match, the hosts made severe inroads into that lead even forcing a time out as
they closed to within two points at 7:9. Surrey pride must have been invoked in
that thirty seconds of instruction from Sara Neale as she herself immediately
blocked an attack by Sally Rush and the squad gradually eased further and
further ahead although it was only after a rotation fault at 13:22 that
Cambridge heads dropped.
A generally good performance from all the players will have
satisfied the coaches and supporters but both sets will have been delighted
with the way their newcomer performed. Katarin Grzesik is a new signing for
Cambridge and she deservedly earned her place on court after coming on in the
middle of the first set. She will have
been particularly pleased with good hits from the right in the second set and a
similar shot in the third just as her side was halting the early slide. She
also created some concerns with her service and read the game well when in back
court. Lenka Koutvinkova was playing her third match for Ashcombe. Discovered
playing for Epsom in the Surrey League, for whom she remains an asset, she had
so outstanding a game that the players asked me to warn Guildford scouts off
that competition. Ashcombe would like it as an exclusive recruiting ground.
Most valuable players? Joana Santos and Michelle Nudds were nominated. Both had
played a captain’s game.
Cambridge:
Starting six: Antigone Dimas, Anita Hoppe,
Sabine Huelsemann, Sally Rush, Joana Santos (captain) and Glynis Wyatt.
Libero: -
Other players: Katarina Grzesik and Louise
Hambrook.
Coach: Jean Jacquet.
Ashcombe Dorking:
Starting six: Carol Fogarty, Ann Jarvis, Lenka
Koutvikova, Sara Neale, Michelle Nudds (captain) and Vicky Sarsfield.
Libero:.-
Other players: -
Coach: Sara Neale.
League Table:
P
W L F A Pts.
1. Loughborough II 14 13
1 39 7 40
2. Ashcombe Dorking 14 13
1 39 8 40
3. Devon 14
9 5 31 20 32
4. Guildford International 14 9
5 28 20 32
5. Leeds 13
9 4 32 18 31
6. Norwich Ladies 12 9 4 27 14 28
7. Chiltern Ladies 14 6 8 25 25 26
8. Cleobury 14
5 9 21 30 24
9. Herts Nomads 14 4 10 13
33 22
10. Mavericks of
Malmesbury 14
2 12 10 36 18
11. Cambridge 14
2 12 14 39 16*
12. Tonbridge 13
2 11 7 36 15*
*penalty points deducted.
Acknowledgements: EVA web site and results
service.