Sluggish start costly for Oldham

NETBALL: OLDHAM Netball Club made a disappointing start to the new Premier League season, losing 51-39 at home to Bath Toucans.

The local outfit were up against it from the off as two players arrived late and missed coach Mike Greenwood’s team talk.

Oldham trailed 13-6 at the end of the first quarter — eight of their shots were off target — and the

second quarter followed in a similar vein.

Bath took advantage of missed opportunities to scoring freely and open up a 26-11 lead at the half-way point.

Greenwood made several changes, with young shooter Kathryn Turner given her chance to shine.

The switch paid off as Oldham turned possession into points.

An injury to the Toucan’s goal defence gave Greenwood another opportunity to introduce Alexa Collier in place of Charlie Beenham at goal attack.

Oldham won the third quarter 14-12 and the fourth 14-13, but the fight back was too little, too late.