WOMEN’S THIRD
DIVISION SOUTH
T H Lynx lose to South Hants 19:25 15:25 24:26
Whitechapel Sports Centre, London E.1.
Sunday 19th March 2006
The fixture list and results had conspired to
make this a warm up match for a top-of-the-table clash between Swiss Cottage
and South Hants that was to determine promotion to next season’s second
division and it was clear from the start that the visitors wanted to be done
with it as quickly as possible. Lynx did their best to help their London
friends and, at the same time, get themselves clear of the cluster that are
just out of the medals but, it has to be said, they were not in the same class.
This was not immediately noticeable and the first
set was very tight up to eight all. South Hants then began to pull away
although their progress was halted when Ash Messadek volleyed a second pass
into a hole in the defence to make it 9:11. She was to repeat the tactic too
often during the rest of the match but never again did it come off. That was
the first manifestation of the gap in class. TH Lynx’s other weaknesses
included a carelessness in service reception line up that resulted in three
rotational faults, some casual serving and wayward digging particularly when
the ball was served deep.
That said, the team played with bags of spirit
and made the favourites battle for every point. South Hants were still looking
anxious at 14:16 in the first set before good hitting by Pamela Baracchini and
Blanka Bitmanova took their side clear. Similarly in the second Lynx challenged
in every rally and matched their rate of scoring to ten all. Then Pamela
produced a spell of pressure serving that rocked their back court and, despite
a time out, the score mounted to 10:14. Yet Lynx did not give up and forced
Stuart Wood to seek the refuge of a time out at 14:15 after a brace of
successful Eva Bulatko attacks. It worked marvels and Lynx took just one
further rally in the rest of the set.
Antonio Codrington worked marvels in his turn
between the sets and the third set was thrilling. Trinity Chan had come on for
South Hants and played well. Toni Lee showed why she is high in the MVP list.
The others continued to shine. Martina Pastorkova was worth several points for
the way she encouraged the rest of the side and she regularly hit skilfully off
the block. At different times, both Louise Baker and Bev Cooper shone in the
setting role. For Lynx, Amanda Phillip set intelligently and Eva Bullatko, Ash
Messadek, Zeenat Mustafa used the opportunities she provided. At 15:18, Blanka
Bitmanova had to leave court after jarring her arm severely though,
fortunately, she was fit enough after the rest to take part in the next match.
Without her in opposition, Lynx closed the gap to 22:23 when Stuart called a
time out, drew level at 23:23 and secured set point after Eva had hit well
through the middle at the end of a tremendous rally. South Hants showed their
mettle by remaining resolute and saved the point. It was the end of Lynx’s
resistance; Toni Lee produced a wonderful cross-court smash from the left to
earn match point and Pamela’s serve clipped the top of the net and dropped
perpendicularly onto court. Nobody could have played it.
Lynx’s Ash Messadek and Maria Shittu were
nominated as Most Valuable Player. They were good for third division players.
For me, all of the squad on the other side of the net looked worthy of higher
things.
T H Lynx:
Starting six: Eva Bulatko,
Ash Messadek, Katie Murphy, Zeenat Mustafa, Amanda Phillip (captain) and Maria
Shittu.
Libero: -
Other players: -
Coach: Antonio Codrington.
South Hants:
Starting six: Louise Baker,
Pamela Baracchini, Blanka Bitmanova, Bev Cooper, Janet Harper (captain) and
Toni Lee.
Libero: -
Other players: Trinity Chan,
Michelle Godfroy and Martina Pastorkova.
Coach: Stuart Wood.
League Table:
(top six) P
W
L F A Pts.
1. Swiss Cottage 16 14
2 45 11 44
2. South Hants 16 13
3 41 17 42
3. Plymouth 16 12 4 38 22 40
4. City
of Bristol Ladies 16
8 8 31 28 32
5. TH Lynx 16
8 8 30 31 32
6. Solent Ladies 14 6 8 23 29 26
Acknowledgements:
EVA web site and results service.