Swansea Netball League

Ammanford A 35 v Aberafan C 26

Following the close of the 2013/14 season and with promotion to the Swansea Netball League’s second division secured, Ammanford Netball Club’s A side started their winter campaign with a resounding 35–26 victory over a feisty Aberafan C.

With neither side having played competitively for over a month, the first quarter was something of a settling down period with the Ammanford defence of Al Jones and Brit Lewis up against a pair of tall Aberafan shooters.

Play moved back and fore up the court with numerous unforced errors from both sides and, at the end of the quarter Ammanford trailed 8-7 Coach Denise Buckley made a tactical decision to replace Jones with the taller Gemma McWilliams.

The second quarter was as frenzied as the first with Aberafan playing a fast and furious game, but Ammanford found a steady rhythm with centre Leah Maloney chasing every ball.

Reading the game beautifully, Maloney co-ordinated the centre court, using Amy James who was always in support, to great advantage and then threading the ball through to Beth Gilbert in attack who was able to feed the shooting circle where both Mia Jones and Catrin Rees were on form.

The quarter ended with Ammanford leading 17-11.

With her side settled into a steady game, Buckley opted to leave things unchanged, and Ammanford were able to build on their lead to end the quarter 27-18 up.

With the nine-goal advantage, Buckley gave Delun Allcock her debut, and she settled well.

Aberafan’s defence did their utmost to disrupt the composure of the Ammanford shooters but their efforts were to no avail as the sides matched each other goal for goal in the last quarter to give Ammanford a 35-26 win.