Netball: Wednesday thriller sees Celts pip Walis in final play; wins for Arfon Ladies, Dreigiau and Mavericks

Arfon Celts pipped Tim o Walis 26-25 with a deciding goal from the final play of the game on an exciting night of action in the Gwynedd and Anglesey Winter Netball League Division One.

With both teams missing key players it was anyone’s game. Celts took the early lead but Walis rallied in quarter two to cut the deficit to one goal.

Celts put the pressure on in the third and looked like they had the game wrapped up at 24-17 ahead entering the last.

But a late surge from Walis turned the heat on Celts who started making errors and the match was suddenly level pegging at 25-25.

Celts GA Allison Williams had the ball with one second to go when a penalty was called. Her penalty shot was successful, giving Celts the win 26-25.

Pipped by one goal last week and winning by one this week – quite a start to the season for Celts and tremendous play by both teams.

Arfon Ladies made it back-to-back wins with a 22-11 victory over Pwllheli.

Both teams started off slowly with Arfon slightly edging it. The second quarter saw Arfon dictate with a nice flowing game.

Each side made changes for the second half and the defensive amendments for Pwllheli stopped the flow in the Arfon shooting circle.

Arfon finished up comfortable winners, but Pwllheli produced a great fightback to win the last quarter.

Last season’s Division Two champions Dreigiau Brynrefs beat runners-up Porthmadog 39-20.

Brynrefs produced a fast-paced start and went a few goals up before a reply from Port.

Port settled in the second to make it a competitive quarter, but Dreigiau were consistent throughout with good shooting, while the opposition’s attacking players struggled against the winning team’s defence.

The last match of the evening saw Menai Mavericks steadily extend their lead over the four quarters against Dolgellau side Arran, the Anglesey team eventually recording a 34-23 triumph.

Scores, line-ups and player awards….

Arfon Ladies 22-11 Pwllheli
(6-4; 15-6; 19-7; 22-11)
Arfon: Llinos Dobbins, Anest Fflur Edwards, Amy Parry, Clare Roberts, Diane Parry, Debbie Jones, Cadi Bracegirdle. Subs: Alaw Davies, Rachel Southall.
Pwllheli: Ceri Brown, Lilli Doodson, Alaw Griffiths, Tara Thorne, Georgie Battye, Steffi Studt, Sarah Brown. Sub: Tabi Tomlinson.
Players of the Match
Umpires: Pwllheli – Steffi Studt; Arfon – Llinos Dobbins
Players: Pwllheli – Lilli Doodson; Arfon – Rachel Southall.

Dreigiau Brynrefs 39-20 Porthmadog
(10-4; 20-12; 28-15; 39-20)
Dreigiau: Enlli Williams, Elin Thomas, Melody Haston-Wilson, Abbi Parkinson, Gwen Roberts, Georgia Parkinson, Cadi Thomas. Sub: Elain Williams.
Porthmadog: Debs Brooks, Sarah Williams, Alaw Jones, Beca Thomas, Zoe Hall, Sarah Pozzi, Sara O’Neil. Subs: Diane Williams, Cet Roberts.
PoM
Umpires: Dreigiau – Elin Thomas; Porthmadog – Sara O’Neil
Players: Dreigiau – Melody Haston-Williams; Porthmadog – Diane Williams.

Arfon Celts 26-25 Tîm o Walis
(8-5; 14-13; 24-17; 26-25)
Celts: Danni Power, Allison Williams, Sioned Morris, Tanisha Burgher, Cerys Davies, Eleanor Lomax, Gwenno Pritchard. Subs: Erin Davies, Siwan R Jones.
Walis: Elen Edwards, Ellen Cox, Debbie Lovell, Lois McGrath, Jenna Allsup, Malan G Jones, Hanna Domagala. Subs: Lyndsey Jones, Llio Jones.
PoM
Umpires: Celts – Eleanor Lomax; Walis – Lois McGrath.
Players: Celts – Tanisha Burgher; Walis – Ellen Cox.

Menai Mavericks 34-23 Arran
(12-5; 19-11; 27-17; 34-23)
Mavericks: Laura Webber, Jessie Jones, Collette Charker-Jones, Lisa Campbell, Vicky Wells, Steph Yau-Jones, Kelly Roose. Sub: Freya Evans.
Arran: Penny Hughes, Catrin Gittins, Lucy Phasey, Sara James, Ceri Jones, Ceris Hughes, Chloe Evans. Subs: Bernie Conneely, Stephanie Owen.
PoM
Umpires: Arran – Catrin Gittins; Mavericks – Laura Webber
Players: Arran – Penny Hughes; Mavericks – Jessie Jones.