Sports School outplay Yio Chu Kang 37-19 in North Zone B Division netball

By Coach Dick Yip

Singapore Sports School, Friday, February 23, 2007 – A pumped-up Yio Chu Kang side faced their formidable hosts who were equally determined to continue their winning streak since the competition began. The game started off well for Yio Chu Kang. They gained possession and scored the first goal with the girls showing no signs of stage fright at all. Sports School matched them point-for-point until 3-3 in the opening minutes. That was the only time Yio Chu Kang achieved parity for the entire match.

As soon as they got into their stride, there was no stopping the Sports School girls dominating play with their robust and physical style. From 3-3, with slick passing and fast counter attacks through their Centre, they steamed ahead 7-3.

The Yio Chu Kang supporters gamely shouted out encouragements to their players to spur them on. “Come on YCK, you can do it ! Jia you! Jia you!” But this unfortunately had little bearing on the proceedings on court as the host turned on their power and went further ahead 10-4.

Yio Chu Kang trooped back on court with determined hearts to stop the opposing juggernaut but from the restart, the game was almost a repeat of the 1st quarter, with every Sports School player involved in stout defending and attacking play. Their Centre seemed to be everywhere as though there were two of her! From 10-4, their Goal Attack (GA) and Goal Shooter (GS) both of whom hardly missed any, scored 5 more to make it 15-4.

Just at this point, as Yio Chu Kang were looking for some inspiration from anywhere, the skies darkened suddenly and droplets of rain fell from above.  Taking advantage of the changing conditions, Yio Chu Kang took the next 2 points, bringing the score to 15-6 as the ball got very slippery on the wet court. They scrambled another 2 points more before Sports School closed off the quarter with a score of 20-8.

For Yio Chu Kang, the reprieve from that 45-minute downpour was short-lived when play resumed in the indoor court at Sports School. Their opponents took total command on their home turf and dominated most of the play. The score was 22-8 when Yio Chu Kang, refusing to go down without a fight, took the ball and in a fast break fed the ball to their GA who confidently popped it in. Score – 22-9.

Stung by this, Sports School reacted by going on an unstoppable 4-goal run, bringing the scoreline to 26-9. Yio Chu Kang knew they had an outstanding GS in Lai Bao Ling and if they could feed the ball to her more often, the gap in the score would narrow significantly. That was exactly what they did over the next few minutes, getting the ball and somehow feeding it to Bao Ling who duly obliged with 2 precious goals. 27-11.

Not to be outdone, Suhailah, Sports School’s WA, combined well with her teammate Keshia, the Centre, to orchestrate some fine moves of their own that widened the lead to 29-11. Yio Chu Kang responded with another goal in the few seconds left in the quarter to bring the score to 29-12.

In the 4th quarter, the Yio Chu Kang girls, aware that the war was probably lost earlier, decided to make a last ditch stand. And what a furious battle it turned out to be! Both sides went at each other with Yio Chu Kang matching their rivals stride for stride and point for point. 30-12, 30-13, 31-13, 31-14, 32-14, 32-15, 33-15, 33-16, 33-17, 34-17, and finally 37-19.

The score for this last quarter was only 8-7 in Sports School’s favour. The final score did not reflect the tenacious fighting spirit and tremendous effort of the Yio Chu Kang girls. They were not cowed at all but were undone by a top team that had precision shooting, precision passing and unmatched physical qualities. There was nothing more the girls nor their coach could have done. No one could have asked for more.

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More action shots in the Picture Gallery.