Slow start overcome

Oldham 66, Trafford 44

NETBALL: OLDHAM’S North-West Premier League netball team overcame a sluggish start to maintain its unbeaten run.

It was a new-look Oldham side with Alice Travis and Rachel Taylor coming into the team, and it took a while for the local girls to settle.

Oldham trailed 12-10 after the first quarter, but got much better after that as coach Suzy Chapman made tactical and personnel changes. Travis and Sarah Brennan were in superb shooting form in the second quarter as Oldham twice scored five goals in a row without reply, to lead 31-23.

More domination saw Oldham extend their advantage to 51-33 at the end of the third quarter, and although the final period was goal for goal for the most part, Chapman’s team were conformable winners.

Said the coach: “It was another rocky start and we need to settle into the game quicker. We had some new faces in the squad so it was difficult for some players to adjust without having the practice with them at training.

“The second and third-quarter performances were impressive. I was particularly pleased with Sarah Brennan and Taylor Cullen. Sarah came on and changed the game in the second quarter and Taylor’s ground work in defence was superb.”

Oldham’s next game is against Warrington in two weeks’ time.