Exeter Away, 2nds
13-5 Joey Niblett (4), Josh Cockburn (4), Chris Gubby (2), Rachel Knight (2), Caroline Lowdon (1), Amy Shillabeer, Gareth Thomas, Gwen Jones, Sian Hunt
After three successive losses (albeit that one was a friendly and one we won on forfeit) the Dragons second team were keen to get back to winning ways. A couple of late withdrawals combined with the long trek to Devon and the hectic social life of our players meant that they would have to do so with just 7 players though - Josh handed the short straw of having to take on two Exeter boys on his own.
Nonetheless, it was a strong team that Dragons were able to put out and they moved ahead early, Joey scoring twice from long range. Josh made it 3-0 taking advantage of some confusion amongst the Exeter boys who both left him to the other. A penalty put Exeter on the scoreboard, but Dragons moved further ahead with Caroline scoring her first competetive goal for the club. Joey sped through to make it 5-1. The next two goals also went Dragons way, both from the penalty spot as Sian and Amy were fouled as they took shots from under the basket. Finally Joey ended the half with another long shot. 8-1 at half-time to Dragons. Exeter had put up numerous shots but had received no reward.
The second half saw two Dragons subs, with Chris and Rachel replacing Joey and Sian. Exeter came out stronger too, particularly in terms of how they were to exploit Dragons numerical disadvantage. A running-in shot saw them open the scoring in the second period, before Rachel scored from long range for Dragons. Exeter then scored twice before Dragons surged forwards again with Chris, Rachel and Josh all scoring. Exeter pulled another back, before Chris’s runner ended the scoring with Dragons 13-5 winners.