Womens 1 Vs Newmarket

This Saturday Saints made the short trip to Newmarket to face last season`s promotion and title rivals. Saints started the game the better, maintaining possession and controlling the game. Saints took the lead through Paula Bingham, who opportunistically converted at the far post from a penalty corner. Disappointingly Saints didn’t capitalise on this good start and Newmarket gradually came in to the game as Saints began to make mistakes in possession and the home side equalised with a penalty corner shortly before half-time.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Newmarket pushed forward at the beginning of the second period, winning a further couple of penalty corners. The first was successfully defended, but Mandy Rogers conceded a penalty stroke from the second as she bravely thwarted the attack with initially face mask and then body! Saints keeper Mel Harding then dived full length to save and maintain parity. As both sides pushed for victory Mel Harding made further good saves and Saints skipper Emma Ritchie pinged a post from a Saints penalty corner. So honours remained even 1-1 at the final whistle.

Youngsters Charlie Churms and Lotti Knights had made promising league debuts in the Saints forward line and Lotti took the player of the match honours for some particularly skilful and pacy attacking play. Next weekend Saints will be looking to build on what has been a promising start to their first season in Division 1 when they face Dereham at Longsands at 1pm.