Exeter Away, 1sts
12-14 Chris Gubby (5), Remco Broekhuis (2), Sian Hunt (2), Angharad Morgan (1), Josh Cockburn (1), Rachel Knight (1), Helen Gubby, Joey Niblett, Lee O’Sullivan
This season is beginning to show some strange parallels with the previous one. Again Dragons started well with good results against fancied teams Bristol City and Cardiff City, again they’ve had a mid-season slump dropping points at home to Bristol Uni and away to Exeter. We can only hope that the similarities continue with a run of victories from now on to retain the title.
Dragons got off to a slow start, looking rusty after the Christmas lay-off. Angharad and Sian both scored from close range, but Exeter scored 6, with Kevin McMeeking looking particularly dangerous in his first appearance against Dragons. Chris dragged Dragons back into the game before half-time with a brace of goals from under the basket, but Exeter led 6-4 at half-time.
In the second half, Dragons attacked better, but shot after shot was put up without dropping. Sian did score her second running-in shot and Remco scored a trick shot from collect, but at the other end Exeter’s lead climbed to 12-6. Finally inside the last quarter Dragons began to find some fluency in attack and Exeter looked less assured against some rebound defence. Rachel and Remco scored from range, then after Tony responded for Exeter, Chris scored. Another Exeter goal seemed to have killed the game at 14-9, but a long-shot from Josh (on as a sub) and a phenomenal running-in shot from Chris where he released the ball behind his head as he went past the post closed the gap. Chris scored the 5th goal of an impressive individual performance from distance, but with Exeter clearly rattled, time ran out.
A deserved win for an Exeter side who put in their usual strong home performance. On another day, Dragons would expect to score a higher percentage of the shots they put up and they rebounded strongly. There is work to do defensively however.
Thanks to Stuart for reffing, and to Sian, Caroline and Remco for driving.