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NEW-LOOK MAVERICKS SUFFER OPENING DAY DEFEAT
IT
Was A Game Of Two Halves
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IN FRONT
Of
AN
Energised
CROWD
On
OPENING DAY
Of The 2023 Netball
SUPER LEAGUE, AS SARACENS MAVERICKS RAN OUT OF TIME TO CATCH A NEWLOOK SEVERN STARS.
Last year’s statistics didn’t give the true picture, as the team who finished fifth last season took on the team who won just three of their matches in 2022. Mavericks faced the unknown entity of an almost entirely new Stars side, complete with Jo Trip as new Player/Coach.
While Mavericks started strong, Stars grew into the game and, ultimately, Mavericks’ surge in the final quarter wasn’t enough to catch the team from Worcester. Mavericks opened the scoring, with new squad member Kira Rothwell teaming up effectively with Ine-Mari Venter.
The Hertfordshire team ended the first quarter with a narrow advantage.
There was nothing to separate the two sides in the second quarter as the crowd were treated to pacey, competitive netball. Although Mavericks went into the much-needed half time break a point ahead, it was Stars looked to be gaining a foothold in the match.
Mavericks showcased the depth in their squad in the third quarter with Mather handing the mid-court baton to Ecuyer-Dale and Corbin tagging out for Lees.
Severn, meanwhile, stuck with their (increasingly) magnificent seven to frustrate Mavericks and head into the final quarter with a 6-point advantage.
Buchanan’s side fought hard to claim the fourth quarter on points but, unfortunately, to lose the match. The Head Coach found the positives from match one of her team’s 2023 campaign:
“It’s early on. We can go back to the training ground and really refine those things. A Lot of lessons learnt. I don’t think we – and by we I mean ‘I’ – adjusted tactically enough to that. We were prepared tactically but I’m not sure our execution was there at times.”
Lisa Mather made her debut for the Mavericks in the fixture and echoed her Coach’s determination and optimism, believing that her side will still be able to take great heart from the match.
“It was a good game to look at what we need to improve on going ahead and I’m sure it’s going to give us more fire to keep going and get wins.,” Mather explained.
“As a group, it isn’t the result we wanted, but there are going to be so many things that we can take from this. Props to the Stars, they really did come out firing. We wanted the first win to start the season, but it was a great game.”