Kingston netball lose out on top spot in league

Kingston University Netball Team lost the chance to take top of the league following a 34-17 loss against University College London at Tolworth on Wednesday.

Captain Molly King replaced wing defence, Reiss Niles, after an injury in the first quarter due to the slippery conditions.

Despite losing, Molly Hilling, said: “The final score does not reflect how hard we tried. I could not have asked for more from my team.”

The match was tough as both teams were very strong, but by the end of the first quarter, the Cougars were trailing 11-2.

In the second quarter, Kingston put up a good fight, but the opposition were stronger and pushed against them, ending the second quarter 11 points behind the visitors.

Kingston began the third quarter with a stronger game. Goal attack and wing defence swapped positions, which led to KU scoring two goals within a minute.

The Cougars were unable to bring back the score and finished the third quarter at UCL 25-13 KU.

In the final quarter Kingston brought it’s A-game. The team attempted to equalise the score, yet UCL were dominating play and the match finished 34-17 to the visitors.

King said: “We worked so hard at the end of the day, but they were the better team and deserved to win.”

Goal shooter, Lily Kilgour, was awarded ‘Man of the Match’ by her teammates and goal defence, Tori Jackson, said: “She is probably our most improved player this season.”

“It is probably the best we have played all season,” Miss Jackson said. “They [UCL] are top of the league table and we are second so we played well and I am glad with the way the game went.”

Miss Jackson said she could tell that her team had already improved a great deal since getting a new coach just two weeks ago.

She said: “The new coach has put discipline in the team already. We have definitely bonded more as a team since getting a new coach. She has given us enthusiasm, which we really needed.”