Oldham’s flying start

COACH Debbie Hallas (centre) and her Oldham Netball Club Premier League team line up before the first game of the new season.

NETBALL: OLDHAM Netball Club made an impressive start to the defence of their Premier League crown with a 75-27 win over Hucclecote.

Strong defence in the opening quarter and a fluent mid-court and impressive shooting display saw the hosts forge 20-6 ahead.

Coach Debbie Hallas rang the changes at the first break, but the goals kept coming. Laura Malcolm ran the show in mid-court and shooters Kathryn Turner and Amy Clinton were clinical as the lead stretched to 45-11 by half time.

Lucy Stevenson (16) was handed her debut at goal shooter in the third quarter, which was a more even affair. Oldham pushed on in the final quarter to record a routine victory.

Coach Hallas said: “It was a great start and a chance to blow away some cobwebs,” she said.

"It was an opportunity to give Lucy Stevenson her Premier League debut, and Jodie Gibson and Laura Malcolm put in impressive performances alongside Kathryn Turner, who was my player-of-the-match."


OLDHAM’S next game is away at Turnford on Sunday.