Crescent Girls’ overcome Outram to qualify for B Division South Zone netball quarter-finals

Story and photos by REDintern Alethia Tiang

Co-Curricular Activities Branch, Wednesday, February 18, 2009 – Crescent Girls’ School are through to the quarter-finals after they beat Outram Secondary 12-12 in today’s final preliminary round match in the 2009 B Division South Zone Netball Championship.

It was an aggressive first quarter as both teams each scored their first four goals one after another. Crescent, however, had more opportunities to score but missed them due to a lack of confidence and nervousness on the part of shooters. Taking advantage of this, Outram played a good defensive game, pressurizing the Crescent players but could not prevent their opponents from ending the first quarter with a narrow 6-4 lead.

Crescent pulled away from Outram in the second quarter as they fought Outram’s aggression with their agility. Crescent played faster and longer passes to put Outram under pressure. As the Crescent Girls’ shooters gained confidence, Outram seemed to lose theirs as in the face of the Crescent intimidation and frustration from their coach. Crescent bulldozed past Outram in the second quarter 15-6.

It was evident on the faces of the Outram players that they were discouraged, as they shuffled to the court in the third quarter. Crescent knew that the game was theirs to take and continue to pressure Outram into losing possessions of the ball. Despite their discouragement, Outram didn’t want to lose without a fight, giving their best to score any chance they get. Outram shooters, Rose and Wen Yi fought hard to score as many as they can get. However, it was Crescent’s positive spirit that kept the lead at 21-9 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was almost a déjà vu of the first quarter, except that it was Outram’s turn to miss opportunities. Despite this, the Outram players still continued to fight hard against Crescent, attempting to intercept as many passes as they could. By this quarter, Crescent was sure of their victory and kept their spirits up by their cheers of encouragement, celebrating a 29-12 victory to qualify for the Quarter-final round of the competition.

Crescent Girls’ will move on to the Quarter-final round of the South Zone Netball competition, starting this Friday, 20 February 2009, to play against teams from Raffles Girls’, St Margaret’s Girls and Ang Mo Kio Secondary. All the best, girls!