Leeds survive Lightning strike

Harten: Early success for Loughborough

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Leeds Carnegie kicked off their Co-operative Netball Superleague season with a 47-42 home win over Loughborough Lightning.

Both teams fielded much-changed line-ups at the start of the campaign, with the two rivals relying on a blend of youth and experience.

Loughborough waved goodbye to Jade Clarke and Natasha Hampshire, while Lightning legend Olivia Murphy hung up her playing bib to focus on coaching the side.

But there was no sign of any skill gap in the first quarter as they made the most of access to skipper Jo Harten in the circle feeding her with enough ball to get a three-goal advantage.

Teenage talent

At the other end 17-year-old Layla Guscott was earning her stripes with tips and interceptions for Leeds.

A shift in the Carnegie line-up slowed up ball to the Loughborough shooter in the second quarter with Ama Agbeze moving into GK.

Young blood runs hot and the pace and energy of the game did not flag as Carnegie edging into a two-goal lead at half-time.

It was a closely-fought third quarter with both teams well settled by now, Loughborough making one change, Mas Motaung handed her debut at WD and impressively keeping up with Leeds equally swift WA Natalie Haythornthwaite.

The switch created more space for the attack and by the time the sides were changing ends for the final time the match was locked at 34-34.

The crowd woke up for the final quarter, ramping up the noise for the home side, and the Loughborough players reacted by speeding up their play.

Frantic

"It got a bit frantic," Murphy admitted after the match after Leeds intercepted a couple of long balls and turned a slight advantage into a five-goal win.

"We tried something different in the centre court playing Alex Kirk out of the GA bib and at WA. It will probably need time to bed down."

Olivia also wants the team to get more street-wise, adding: "we need to get more clinical and learn how to close out the game."

Leed Carnegie coach Anna Newell was very pleased with the squad's performance: "A good tough win for us", she said after the match.

"We had three 17-year olds making their debuts today and the experience members of the squad really backed them up with consistency."

Leeds Carnegie: GS: Carla Dziwoki, GA:Rachel Shaw, WA:Natalie Haythornthwaite, C: Natalie Pangarry, WD: Danielle Bloomfield, GD: Ama Agbeze (moved to GK for Q2 Q3 Q4), GK: Lauren Potter (benched after Q1)
Bench: Chantelle Hankin, Jo Walker, Jo Davies, Rachel Beale, Lisa Fernleyhough

Loughborough Lightning: GS: Jo Harten, GA: Becky James, WA: Alex Kirk, C: Becky White, WD: Becky Gentle (played first half then benched, GD: Emma Bliss, GK: Layla Guscoth.
Bench: Lianne Badmin, Mas Motaung (played second half at WD), Tallisa Haynes, Kara Luck, Jade Forbes-Wattley

Shooting stats:
Leeds: Carla Dziwoki 25 from 31 attempts (81 percent), Rachel Shaw 17 from 22 attempts (78 percent)
Loughborough: Jo Harten 31 from 38 attempts (81 percent), Becky James 11 from 19 attempts (58 percent)