Story by Delle Chan/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports
SMU stand-in GS, Charlene Tan, looks for a pass in their IVP matchup with NP (red). Usually playing as a GD, the SMU netballer had to change roles to replace her injured teammate. (Photo 1 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex, Friday, January 14 2011 – In a keenly contested match, Singapore Management University (SMU) defeated Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) 49-28 in the group stages of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Netball Championship.
At the start of the match, SMU broke the deadlock by chalking up two goals before NP pulled them back. The rest of the first quarter turned out to be rather evenly matched, with both sides being quick to reciprocate each other’s goals. However, SMU eventually edged NP out in this quarter with a score of 10-7.
In the second quarter, SMU’s Goal Attack (GA) opened the scoring once again to further increase her side’s advantage. This was followed by two more goals in quick succession before a resilient NP scored two goals of their own. The two sides continued to battle fiercely for the ball and defend determinedly; however, helmed by a sterling performance by their GA, SMU slowly but surely increased their lead to 20-14.
SMU again chalked up another two goals in the opening of the third quarter before NP responded. Again, the two sides gave each other stiff competition, demonstrating their own flashes of brilliance. However, NP eventually conceded the quarter 37-21 to SMU.
The last quarter saw SMU further underscore their dominance by scoring four goals in rapid succession. Confidence exuded from their play, and their passing skills became discernibly more polished as the match wore on. NP, to their credit, never stopped battling. However, SMU went on to clinch the game with a final score of 49-28.
After the match, SMU’s captain, Chan Hui Mui, said, “Our first quarter was rather shaky but we managed to stabilise in the second. We maintained what we wanted to do in both the third and fourth quarters, with our coach telling us what to focus on.”
As for her team’s prospects, Hui Mui said, “Our next match against TP will be a decisive one, and I reckon we stand a 50-50 chance of winning it.”
In the other Group B match of the night, NUS defeated RP with a score of 64-45.
2011 IVP Netball Fixtures & Results
An injured SMU netballer mingles with fellow teammates before the match. (Photo 2 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
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