Cambridge led for the entirety of the clash, restoring their winning form after two defeats in the cup and Varsity respectivelyCambridge University Ladies Netball Club

Cambridge University Ladies Netball Club (CULNC) Blues were crowned champions of the BUCS Midlands Tier 2A division last Wednesday (02/03) after beating Nottingham Women’s 2 by a score of 53-45.

The run-in was Cambridge’s penultimate fixture of what has been an impeccable season, winning all nine league games and securing the title one match early.

The Blues had clashed with Nottingham 2 twice before Wednesday’s game, both times coming away victorious. A dominating 53-32 league win last month was closely followed by a numbingly close 62-60 victory in the Midlands Conference Cup, which Cambridge crashed out of last week (23/02) after losing 57-43 to Nottingham Trent 2.

Turning to the game at hand, Cambridge got off to a flyer as they were determined to return to winning ways after their cup and Varsity defeats, taking a 7-0 lead and keeping Nottingham completely off the scoreboard for the first five minutes of the game.

Thanks to some exceptional shooting performances by Clodagh Bottomley and Zoë Starbuck, along with a formidable through court defensive effort from the entire team, the Blues stormed to a 22-7 lead after the first 15 minutes.

The second quarter saw Nottingham make several changes and the game became a much closer affair. Once again, Cambridge, spurred on by fierce defensive displays from Fenna Agnew, Clare Pearson and India Foster, scored several superb goals in quick succession at the beginning of the period.

However, Nottingham steadily played themselves into it and the home team eventually won the quarter by three goals, whittling the Cambridge lead down to 12 at half time.

Cambridge switched things up in the third quarter. Captain Millie Quayle took to Centre, replacing Tabbie Brough whose strength and speed had been the engine for Cambridge’s attacking plays in the first half.

Rosie Schofield also took to the court at Wing-Defence for her first minutes since fracturing her foot near the beginning of Lent term, and Rachel Mercer subbed into Wing-Attack with her ankle firmly strapped up after sustaining a worm-related ankle injury earlier in the week. Thea Krumins, a defensive stalwart all season for the Blues, took the Goal-Defence bib.


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By this point in proceedings, Nottingham had really upped their game and, after a hard-fought quarter, the gap remained at 12 heading into the final 15 minutes. The team knew they had everything to gain, and everything to lose.

Nerves showed a little throughout the quarter, with the gap slimming to seven with seven minutes to go. With a Blues blazer in sight, however, the team showed great mental strength and determination, and saw out the game to ultimately take a 53-45 victory.

Krumins secured a well-deserved MVP award, sufficiently justifying her decision to prioritise netball over rowing.

The Cambridge netballers headed home with a Blue and an unbeaten record still intact to cap off a very successful winning Wednesday.

Teams

Nottingham 2: Unconfirmed

Cambridge Blues: Fenna Agnew (GK), Clare Pearson (GD), Indie Foster (WD), Tabbie Brough (C, vice-captain), Millie Quayle (WA, captain), Zoë Starbuck (GA), Clodagh Bottomley (GS)

Finishers: Rachel Mercer, Rosie Schofield, Thea Krumins

Cambridge will play their final game of the BUCS season and academic year on Wednesday 16th March against Birmingham 4.