A week after enjoying a winning weekend against local rivals Bristol Storm, the teams met again in the National Trophy. As so often happens, local derbies can prove notoriously unpredictable in their outcome and can so easily upset the form book. This was one such game! After an emphatic win the previous week, Tigers traveled in a very relaxed frame of mind for this game, knowing they were technically superior in most aspects of their game, to the Bristol Storm players. What Storm lacked in technical ability, they more than made up in spirit, and it was their desire to remain in contention which saw them through, in the end, to a worthy win.
From the outset Storm bought a real competitive edge to the game. They were determined to take the game to Tigers and gave no quarter at any stage of the game. As in the previous week, Storm started at a cracking pace and shook the Tigers with easy lay-ups and put backs to secure an early 4 point lead within the first minute. It was apparent that the Tigers had the edge, both in terms of general ability and court savvy and regrouped quickly to establish a 5 point lead by the 6th minute, largely through 3 point shooting by Jenny Ridgway and Caroline Gulden. At this stage, Storm were deep in team foul trouble and were giving Tigers plenty of opportunities from the free throw line. Worryingly, Tigers missed 8 free throws in this 1st period and allowed Storm to ease back into contention, but still led 14 – 13 at the end of the quarter.
Coach John Abbott took full advantage of the break to re-focus the Tigers efforts. It was clear that sloppy finishing was a real issue for the Tigers on the day and was allowing Storm to remain in contention. Offensively, Tigers were stuttering, however, a good performance by Hannah Watkins, who scored 7 points in the quarter, eased Tigers to a 27 – 25 half time lead.
The 3rd quarter saw Tigers, for the first time in the game, start to score freely with Laura Dyke being particularly prominent, as Tigers opened up an 8 point lead. Defensive lapses at the end of the quarter allowed Storm to remain in contention as they narrowed the gap to 4 points, with Tigers leading 37 – 33 at the end of the quarter.
The last quarter turned the form book upside down. Three early 2 pointers took Storm into the lead for only the second time in the game and, although Tigers regrouped to recover a 1 point lead by the middle of the quarter, a devastating spree of scoring by Storm, who hit 9 points in two minutes, secured the game. With 4 minutes left Tigers trailed by 8 points and despite their best efforts could not recover allowing Storm to take the game 52 – 46.
Manager Jim Hartston commented,
“This result is a real disappointment for the side. We traveled here with high hopes of victory and fully expected to progress into the next stages of the Trophy. We need to learn how to finish sides off more clinically than we were able to today, and it was our lack of capability today which allowed Storm to remain in contention. When they hit their hot spell of scoring we were unable to recover. It's another lesson learned which we will take on board and try to improve upon.”
Tigers Womens next game is at home against Enfield on Sunday 3rd December at Wellsprings Sports Centre — Tip-off is at 14:45