Carnegie netball lose out to Mavs

by Joseph Fitzpatrick

Despite a strong start Leeds Carnegie were unable to overcome perennial grand finalists Hertfordshire Mavericks, losing 60-40 in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Monday.

The game, both teams' second of the Fiat Netball Superleague was curiously poised with underdogs Carnegie fresh off the back of a convincing win against Celtic Dragons whereas Mavericks had looked distinctly average in their opening loss to Northern Thunder. If there was a hint of an upset, the opening 15 minutes did little to dispel such notions. Leeds started well and despite leading by two goals at one point, trailed 15-12 at the end of the quarter. Mavericks stretched this lead to six by halftime, a score line Leeds would have been extremely content with had it been offered them prior to the game.

Unfortunately for the Yorkshire team the opening half an hour proved simply to be a precursor for the disaster that was the third quarter, which saw Leeds lose 21-9.

Carnegie's slip up in the third was made further frustrating by their efforts in the fourth where they held Mavericks to 13 goals and managed 11 of their own.

In spite of the unflattering score line Leeds will be buoyed by their ability to compete against the very top teams in Superleague, something they have failed to do in previous seasons, and an ability which will be tested stringently when they travel to unbeaten Northern Thunder on Saturday.