ROYALS WIN
YNPL U14
CHAMP FINALS
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Royals won their first-ever YNPL Championships Finals after a convincing performance at the Oxstalls Arena in Gloucester. This was another successful day at the office for the Berkshire-based side, which had won the U15 YNPL Grand Finals the season before.
Quarter-Finals
All the winning teams in this round managed to win without too much drama. One of the shock wins came in the game between Wyre and MK Dons. MK Dons started like a house on fire and went ahead by eight goals. As the game settled, Wyre crept back into the game and was unlucky not to turn the game around after such a slow start.
The Royals, NC, Ribble Valley, and Conquerors all progressed through their games without too much trouble and advanced to the semi-finals.
Results
Royals NC (21) Vs Northwich Sapphires (8)
MK Dons (30) Vs Wyre NC (25)
Conquerors NC (23) Vs MNC Wildcats (16)
Ribble Valley (24) Vs Starz NC (18)
5th-8th Play-Offs
Starz got their first win of the competition against MNC Wildcats, and Wyre bounced back from their loss to MK Dons with a hard-fought victory over NW Sapphires.
Results
Northwich Sapphires (21) Vs Wyre NC (25)
Starz NC (31) Vs MNC Wildcats (20)
Semi-Finals
Royals brushed aside MK Dons to reach the final. MK Dons couldn't recreate the form of the previous game against Wyre and had to settle for a 3rd-4th play-off.
Conquerors took on Ribble in the other semi-final, which turned out to be a tight affair. The first quarter saw the Conquerors lead 7-4, with their mid-court showing fantastic creative passing to find their shooters.
The second quarter saw Ribble Valley close the gap to one point after an incredible buzzer shot at the end of the period. Conquerors, though, responded in the third, creating a six-point lead, but Ribble Valley once again scored on the buzzer to keep the game within five going into the final eight minutes.
The final quarter saw Ribble battle hard, and their shooters were on fire in the effort to turn around a five-point deficit. Conquerors, though, stayed strong, and even though they lost the final quarter 6-3, they hung on for the win and a place in the final.
Results
Royals NC (28) Vs MK Dons (10)
Conquerors NC (23) Vs Ribble Valley (21)
5th-8th Play-Off Finals
Northwich Sapphires finished the competition off in style with a convincing win over MNC Wildcats to finish seventh overall.
A solid start by Wyre saw them lead 8-5 against Starz after the first quarter. Starz, though, responded and brought the game within a point heading into the third quarter. Wyre recaptured their three-point advantage going into the final quarter. In the final quarter, their GS was in incredible form, and Wyre wrapped up the win, claiming fifth overall in the competition.
7th-8th Result
Northwich Sapphires (34) Vs MNC Wildcats (19)
5th-6th Result
Wyre NC (30) Vs Starz NC (24)
3rd/4th Play-Off
Ribble dominated the first half of the game, but MK Dons came roaring back, taking advantage of the fact Ribble thought the win was secured after such a dominant start. In the end, MK Dons couldn't turn the game around, and Ribble finished the event with a third-place finish.
Result
MK Dons (28) Vs Ribble Valley (32)
Final
It was a good start by the Conquerors, who took a point lead going into the second quarter. The Royals, in the second quarter, did a fantastic job of breaking down the Conqueror's attacks, and they went from being one point down to three points up at halftime. The Royals continued to dominate the game, especially in the mid-court, where the Royals' center was dictating play with simple passing and incredible feeds to the shooters. The Conquerors tried to mount a fightback in the final quarter, but the Royals' defence held strong, and they were crowned champions.
Result
Royals NC (27) Vs Conquerors NC (22)
All-Star Team
Sammy Hooper (Royals NC), Olivia Gallagher (Ribble Valley), Georgia Lai-Kit (MK Dons), Saiorse Remmer (Starz), Amy Warburton (MNC Wildcats), Naomi Chelton (Wyre NC), Laila Brown (Conquerors NC), Victoria Scott (NW Sapphires)
MVP - Tilly Payne (Conquerors)