WODSON WIN EPIC U13 YNPL
GRAND FINALS
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Wodson Park won one of the most epic YNPL Grand Finals we've ever conducted. They had to work hard for all of their wins on route to winning this competition for the first time in their history.
Quarter-Finals
Turnford took on Leeds in one of the first quarter-final games, and it was an absolute classic. Both sides were exceptional, and you could forgive yourself for thinking it was the final. As the game headed into the final quarter, Leeds were winning by three points, but Turnford managed to level the game with forty seconds to go. A match-winning play was now on the cards. Turnford made their way up the court and fed their shooter, who stumbled and was called for footwork. Leeds frantically tried to win the game with twenty seconds to go, but the clock was against them, and we headed into extra time.
In extra time, the score was level at the halfway point, and the tension in the room was incredible. As the second half of extra time started, Turnford won the ball and had the initiative but lost it again due to being called for a held ball. Leeds went one point ahead, and Turnford tried to level the game but again lost the ball, and Leeds now had the chance to seal the win. Leeds managed to get ahead and finally saw the game out in what was a mentally exhausting start to the competition.
The drama continued as Ellesmere Port and Shan replicated the previous game on Court A. A nervous start from both teams saw the first quarter settle down, and Shan took an early lead. In the second quarter, Shan threw away their lead, and Ellesmere Port went in at half-time 12-10 ahead. Shan stormed back in the third quarter and could have taken the lead going into the final quarter, but a missed shot at the buzzer denied them the lead. Another intense final quarter saw both sides desperately trying to win the game, but it ended in a draw, and we headed into extra time.
In extra time, Ellesmere Port started the better of the sides and went a point ahead. It was now their centre pass and the opportunity to win the game potentially. A missed shot through gave Shan the initiative again, but they failed to make the most of it after being called for a held ball. Ellesmere had another opportunity to score but once again failed to capitalise.
The second half of extra time saw Shan level the game, and then it was a test of nerve to see which team could go on to win the game. Ellesmere Port attacked the goal with less than a minute to go, and the ball was turned over after a misjudged feed. Shan then attached the post and, like Ellesmere Port, failed to take advantage, and the ball was now back in the hands of Ellesmere Port with thirty seconds to go. As Ellesmere Port attacked to win the game, a feed-in shooter looked to set up the win for Ellesmere Port. Unfortunately, the attacker was deemed to be footwork, and Shan had the chance to win the game. After a slow buildup, Shan finally found the pass to their shooter, and she scored on the buzzer, breaking Ellesmere Port's hearts and winning the game for Shan.
Southern champions Wodson Park just survived not being defeated after scoring with seconds to go in their game against Wyre. After leading at half-time, Wyre got themselves in the lead and looked likely to win until Wodson dug themselves out of a hole and got the draw in normal time.
In extra time, both sides still went toe to toe, and going into the final half of overtime, they were still drawing. Wyre, after their heroic performance, couldn't hang on, and Wodson went ahead and finally won an incredible game of netball.
An under-strength Sutton Town side gave Bolton a fright. Bolton looked likely to get the win, but Sutton Town staged a comeback in the third quarter. In the final quarter, Bolton managed to maintain their lead and set up a mouth-watering semi-final against Leeds Athletic.
Results
Bolton NC (27) Vs Sutton Town (21)
Leeds Athletic (29) Vs Turnford NC (26)
Wodson Park (27) Vs Wyre NC (26)
Shan NC (22) Vs Ellesmere Port (21)
5th-8th Play-Offs
After such tough quarter-final games, you could forgive all the teams in this round to be a bit deflated. Turnford started well against Sutton Town and was winning the game convincingly. In the second half, Sutton Town was incredible and chipped away at the score until they took the lead and sealed the win.
Ellesmere Port bounced back against Wyre in a one-sided contest. Wyre struggled to pick themselves up in this tie after narrowly being defeated in the quarter-finals, and Ellesmere Port took advantage with a comprehensive win.
Results
Sutton Town (23) Vs Turnford NC (21)
Ellesmere Port (28) Vs Wyre NC (16)
Semi-Finals
Our first semi-final was between Leeds and Bolton. Both sides had tough opening games, but Bolton would have been the fresher mentally of the two after Leeds's dramatic overtime win over Turnford.
Leeds started better than both teams, and a buzzer shot gave them an 8-5 lead going into the second quarter. Bolton could have allowed Leeds to keep extending their lead, but crucial turnovers meant Bolton weren't allowing Leeds to run away with the tie, and at half-time, they held a one-point lead.
The third quarter saw Bolton step up the pace, and their shooters played their best quarter of the game. Some incredible build-up play and great execution caused Leeds endless trouble, and they found themselves behind and struggling. As the quarter was coming to an end, Bolton had the chance to extend their lead to four points. Once again, some great build-up play saw their shooter find space to put some serious pressure on Leeds, but the shot was missed, and Leeds had to regroup heading into the final quarter.
The opening couple of minutes in the final quarter was crucial for Bolton. Their first centre pass was turned over, and Leeds went down the court, reducing the score to two points. Leeds then made it one point after scoring from theirs. Bolton, on their centre pass, once again failed to score after a misplaced pass, and Leeds now had the chance to level, which they did. From then on, Leeds went from strength to strength, and by the time Bolton settled, the game was over, and Leeds were through to the final.
Earlier in the season, Wodson had lost to Shan in the league, and it was going to be an interesting battle to see if it would be a repeat or a case of revenge. Wodson were dominant in the first half and were ahead by 16-11. Unlike the game in the league, Wodson figured out how to break through the iconic Shan defensive structures.
The third quarter was when Shan came alive and got themselves back into the tie after a flurry of goals at the back end of the quarter, going into the final quarter 22-18 down. The fourth quarter started well for Shan after Wodson were penalised for delaying play and they brought the game back to three points. With momentum on their side, Shan went in search of another quick goal to get the game back to two points, but a couple of missed shots stopped their surge, and Wodson went up the other end and capitalized on the Shan error. After this, Wodson always kept their three to four-point advantage and secured the win to reach their first-ever YNPL Final.
Results
Leeds Athletic (22) Vs Bolton NC (20)
Wodson Park (25) Vs Shan NC (22)
5th-8th Play-Off Finals
Two convincing wins in this round. Turnford finally got a win against Wyre, and Sutton Town dominated the game from start to finish against Ellesmere Port.
7th-8th Result
Turnford NC (33) Vs Wyre NC (18)
5th-6th Result
Sutton Town (36) Vs Ellesmere Port (24)
3rd/4th Play-Off
Bolton made a good start, taking the initiative early on. In the second quarter, Shan brought the deficit down to three but had settled well after a shaky opening quarter.
Throughout the rest of the game, Shan battled hard to turn the game around, but Bolton showed great character to maintain their focus under intense pressure.
Result
Bolton NC (29) Vs Shan NC (27)
Final
Wodson started better of the two sides and found themselves 4-1 early on in the tie. Leeds got back into the game at the end of the quarter and brought the score within a point going into the second quarter.
For a large period of the second quarter, the game was goal for goal. With just over two minutes to go, Leeds got the turnovers they needed to swing the game their way, and they went ahead for the first time in the game. The physicality on the court was intensifying, and when the half-time whistle blew, it came at the right time, allowing players to calm down going into the second half.
After a very messy opening four minutes into the third quarter, Wodson started playing more consistent netball and once again re-took the lead. Leeds weren't going down without a fight and went into the final quarter two points down.
The final quarter saw Wodson start to dominate, and they were four points ahead with four minutes to go. Even though Leeds had opportunities to get back into the game, the Wodson defense, who was superb at breaking down Leeds' play high up the court, shut down any hope of a comeback, and the Hertfordshire-based side became the YNPL National Champions.
Result
Wodson Park (26) Vs Leeds Athletic (23)
All-Star Team
Emmeline Hume (Shan NC), Holly Price (Turnford NC), Millie Smith (Wodson Park), Sophie Cox (Ellesmere Port), Ruby Cox (Wyre NC), Ella Mae-Woods (Sutton Town), Lucia Kelly (Bolton NC), Hallie Weir (Leeds Athletic)
MVP - Ruby Cox (Wyre)