GUTSY SHARKS END BRITISH CHAMPS CAMPAIGN WITH HEADS HIGH
Posted by Nobody on 30 April 2017
Leeds Sharks had a British Champs top four slot snatched from their grasp at the weekend by a pair of England’s top juniors – but not before they’d ended their record-breaking season with another gutsy performance.
Despite a showcase goal-scoring performance from their national team youngsters Izzy Howe and Anya Clapperton; who between them scored all of their team’s eight goals, City of Manchester were confronted with a display of tough Yorkshire defence and some inspired Sharks shooting.
In a lackluster first quarter, both teams took a while to settle and despite outstanding solo efforts from Leeds’ Nila Ward and Molly Quinn – and a terrific goalmouth steal from Emily Pilkington, City of Manchester had nudged ahead by two goals by the first break.
A flurry of surging swims from Nila Ward and Kate Teasdale were rewarded with Leeds’ first goal, but within minutes City of Manchester had responded. A crafty sequence between Lauren Richardson and Kate Teasdale took Leeds back to within a single goal – but again an unmarked Anya Clapperton kept Manchester two-up. A goal from Sophie Sowerby again reduced the margin to one at half time.
Former GBU17 star Emily Sutcliffe used her strength and experience to keep Manchester at bay during a phase of tough and physical encounters, but again it was the host’s highly effective Howe>Clapperton axis that eventually worked its way around Leeds’ defence to give the hosts a three goal advantage. Nila Ward pulled the score back to 6-4, but another fearsome Izzy Howe strike nudged Manchester to 7-4 going into the final quarter.
Minnie Gale’s tussle in the pit was unrelenting - and saved at least two certain Manchester goals. It also gave Kate Teasdale and Mollie Quinn a golden chance to break away and put Nila Ward into an unstoppable position in front of the Manchester goal. Seizing advantage of a double Leeds exclusion in the dying seconds of the game, Manchester scored an easy goal to end the match 8-5.
