Swansea League Division Four

Ammanford 38 APEX 28

With the Ammanford squad going from strength to strength, they went into the final game of the season against league leaders APEX in confident mood.

APEX had won the previous encounter between the sides.

Unfortunately for Ammanford, first choice shooter Mia Jones was unavailable but Gemma McWilliams stepped up to play in the circle alongside Catrin Rees.

However, things started badly for Ammanford when Rees was delayed and the match started without her.

Coach Denise Buckley shuffled her pack again, this time moving Brit Lewis up from defence to play alongside McWilliams while Beth Gilbert took the centre spot supported by Amy James and Emily Janes. Goalkeeper Al Jones, ably assisted by Laura Davies as a last minute change, held up the side.

The first quarter proved fast and furious with the ball moving quickly from end to end.

The APEX defence pressured Ammanford’s improvised shooting pair but some brilliant shots from Brit and excellent feed into the circle by the attack saw the quarter end with Ammanford leading 8-6.

The delayed Rees was able to take to the court for the second quarter with McWilliams dropping back to her more natural defensive role while Janes moved to centre and Gilbert made way.

Ammanford produced a series of classic exchanges, intercepting and controlling play with more and more moves on court, ending in goals coming thick and fast as Rees settled into her rhythm.

The speed of man-of-the-match Lewis meanwhile proved a constant thorn in the APEX side and Ammanford found themselves 21-13 up at half-time.

The third quarter often proves the most vital in netball as fitness levels start to tell.

Buckley made the most of her squad as the rested Gilbert replaced Janes as Ammanford pressed APEX in what was fast proving the most exciting game of the season.

The sides matched each other for goals through the quarter before a late burst for Ammanford ensured they went into the final session 31–21 ahead.

A straight swap at wing attack position saw Janes replaced by Davies as the game continued at the same furious speed with plenty of interceptions and loose balls.

Despite battling hard, APEX failed to reduce the deficit as Ammanford ran out 38-28 winners in their best result of the season.

The final league standings are yet to be published, but having gone undefeated since the beginning of November, Ammanford will be hoping to have achieved promotion position to Division Three.

They will also be looking to take their great form into the Summer Season which begins shortly.