MOLE VALLEY AND EFFINGHAM

Mole Valley 10 - Dorking 9

Mole Valley 23 - Didasko 17

(Nonsuch League U16)

 

Perhaps it was the arrival of a new match ball, or perhaps it was the intensity of the pre-match warm up in cold conditions. More likely, it was the skill and tenacity of the Mole Valley septet that ground out a single-point victory against Dorking to start the Nonsuch season with a win.

Mole Valley won the toss, and took the first centre pass, making sure they scored the crucial first goal of the game. In a low-scoring first quarter, that goal gave Mole Valley the advantage, leading at the first break by 3 - 2.

The second quarter was a war of attrition, with interceptions being the name of the game, and only three goals being scored. Dorking had the odd goal in three, and the scores were level at the half, 4 - 4. Dorking took the third quarter advantage to lead by 6 - 5 at the break.

This is not a team that crumbles. Back came Mole Valley, to level the score, then go ahead, to lead 10 - 8 with a minute of play remaining. The extra fitness in the Mole Valley team was telling, and victory seemed assured, but there was a scare to come when an effort from the Dorking goal attack narrowed the gap to a single point.

There was no way back for Dorking, though, and the whistle blew with the red and blacks victorious.

In a low-scoring game, defence was critical, and the solid unit of wing defence Becca Bruce, goal defence Rachel Callender, and goal keeper Emma Harper made it almost impossible for Dorking to get the ball to their shooters.

Good movement up front from Ellie Whitlow and Hattie Rowe ensured that there was always a target for wing attack Stephanie Moore, who made the most of it with some brilliant dodging and good passing into the circle, while Annabel Blythe, at centre, made sure every centre pass hit a Mole Valley receiver.

A great team effort born of great team spirit, and very difficult to select a player of the match, but the accolade went to Rachel Callender for her sterling work at goal defence.

The pack was shuffled for the second game of the day, against Didasko, but Victoria Mould, coming in as captain, did what she had to do by winning the toss, and the team did what they had to do, by converting the first centre pass into a goal.

From there, it just got better and better for an inspired Mole Valley team. Jessica Hansford, at goal shooter, and Lara Lidington, at goal attack, were on top form, and their goals took Mole Valley to an encouraging four-goal lead at the end of the first quarter (7 - 3). This was Lara's first game in this position, but she took to it like the proverbial duck.

Sarah Minns, following her unexpected success at Guildford, was again posted at wing attack, a position at which she is fast becoming very adept. Her awareness of those around her helped Sarah to be consistently in the right place, and her partnership with centre Alice Saxton positively dominated their Didasko rivals, wit Alice's tight marking and prodigious leaping leading to a series of stunning interceptions.

Mole Valley increased their lead in the second quarter, and the whistle blew for the half with Mould's team ahead by 14 - 7.

The third quarter was drawn, and Didasko fought back to shade the final quarter, but the Didasko fightback only gave the Mole Valley defence the opportunity to show their mettle again.

Rachel Callender, back at goal defence after her player of the match performance against Dorking, put in another reliable performance, while Victoria Mould, at wing defence provided a dependable link between defence and attack. However, so many Didasko attacks foundered on the rock that was goal keeper Rachel Gilbertson. In an inspired game, Rachel marked tightly, and pulled off a series of vital interceptions, almost all of which were converted into goals by the teammates in front of her.

Mole Valley eventually ran out winners by 23 points to 17, a victory helped by solid defence and clever movement up front, but undoubtedly built in midfield, and manager, Julia Tribe, had little hesitation in awarding the player of the match accolade to Alice Saxton.

Every member of the 13-player Mole Valley squad got a game, and every player performed with enthusiasm and team spirit, with the seven on court wee supported by the other six.

Mole Valley - Top of the League!