Leeds End On A Double

There was something of a firework finale feeling to the end of Co-operative Netball Superleague season in the last game for Team Northumbria and Leeds Carnegie. 

Just a couple of goals decided three of the quarters but a big push by the visitors in the other nailed the result.

The TV games have proved fruitful on the goal front this season and Newcastle’s netball fans were the latest crowd to be treated to a great display of targeting.

Leeds Carnegie’s Jo Walker, has been turning the results all year but has at times been overshadowed by team-mate Carla Dziwoki. 

On Monday night Walker took centre stage with a 95% success rate (38 goals from 40 attempts), what a way to finish the year.

To be honest it wasn’t a bad night for the others either, Dzwoki 85%, Lower 87% and Phillips with 70% presenting a good return for the efforts of their team-mates. Two goals took Carnegie ahead by the quarter whistle but it was an even contest.

Barbara Brown, the head coach of Northumbria, has at times dreaded the third quarter of a match as it seemed to be one that would prove costly to her side.

The good news on Monday was that the third quarter was only settled by one goal, unfortunately Carnegie had done the damage in the second. Jo Walker landed all 13 of her shots and with the seven added by Dziwoki they had pushed from two up to twelve.

Credit to Team North for fighting back into the game, Leeds were only two goals better than their opponents in the second half but the second quarter effort gave them the 67-53 win.

Co-coach Marion Lofthouse "Leeds Carnegie brought into tonight’s game all the hard work that has gone into this season.

"Head coach Anna Newell was delighted with the manner of the performance as Leeds won every quarter and competed throughout the game.  Roll on 2011!"

You can see for yourself on Thursday 22nd April,2010  SkySports 3 at 1730.

By Lisa O’Sullivan