By Stephen Holcroft
A disciplined performance from York’s netball 1sts gave the side a comfortable league victory over Sunderland by 42-21 on Wednesday. The hosts were never really in any danger of throwing away this match, and the win – York’s second of the season – maintains the team’s position of third in the league, with six points from four matches.
Comprehensively leading in the opening quarter, continuity in the rhythm of the match beckoned with York assailing the opposition from there on in. With a changed attacking lineup from their cup success over Northumbria two weeks ago, Kay Masterson was replaced by Georgia Maffia. This change did little to alter York’s winning ways as Goal Shooter Maffia, supported by Claire Dinan, proved a menacing threat throughout to the opposition.
As the whistle sounded to the opening quarter, Sunderland were trailing 11-6. Where York proved clinical, Sunderland were wasteful, and it ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides. Rebecca O’Dwyer, later to be given a rest, and captain, Cesca Dessain, were finding space with relative ease as Sunderland looked short of ideas.
By the halfway stage, the hosts stretched their lead further, with the score 22-11 in York’s favour. With 30 minutes left, this match was already a foregone conclusion, despite Sunderland’s hope of gaining some respectability in the fixture.
The third quarter proved even more dismal for the visitors, conceding another nine points, and only three in reply. Indeed, when attacker Dinan did eventually miss a shooting opportunity at 30-14, Sunderland were given a rare let off.
The final quarter followed the flow of the previous quarters, with York again dominant. Jenni Williams, Grace Marsden and Sarah Smith were little more than spectators for the afternoon, with the majority of play being dictated in Sunderland’s territory. Maffia was again at her effective best, and the scorecards were a resounding 42-21 for York at the match’s conclusion.
