Sunday 28 February 2016 11:42, UK
Team Northumbria earned their first Netball Superleague win of the season against Yorkshire Jets on Monday night.
The 48-44 result condemned the visiting Jets to a fifth consecutive game of the new campaign without their first victory.
A closely fought and physical encounter was neck-and-neck for long periods until the fourth quarter when the Jets slowly fell away, allowing Northumbria to run down the clock.
The scores were level at 12-12 at the end of the first quarter, while Northumbria owned a two-goal lead at half-time. Northumbria edged into a 37-33 lead with 15 minutes left and were able to keep their noses in front.
Player-of-the-match Tuaine Keenan and Lynsey Armitage were particularly impressive performers for the hosts who rose to sixth in the eight-team Superleague, with Jets and Celtic Dragons beneath them.
Jamaican pairing Shanice Beckford and Nicole Dixon also found their feet for Northumbria with a threatening, attacking display.
"I'm really proud we could absorb the pressure and come through with the win," said Keenan.
"We weren't as much of a unit as perhaps we could be [in previous weeks]. We worked on being a better team and working together so that when we're in these tight matches we can push through and pull it out for each other.
"We did our homework and knew they had a lot of options on the bench. But we created a defensive structure that could handle whatever they put on."
