College A’s Samantha Holden takes an intercept during her side’s win over Hampstead A on Thursday night. Photos Erin TaskerCollege A have bounced back from a slow start to beat Hampstead A and keep their unbeaten start to the Mid Canterbury Netball premier one competition going.

The young College side had their work cut out for them to get to that 37-33 win at the EA Networks Centre on Thursday night, with Hampstead A coming out all guns blazing and restricting College to just five goals in the first quarter to lead 11-5.

College A made a couple of changes on attack at the first break though and they paid off quickly, with College soon clawing their way back within two and then drawing even just before half-time.

The two sides were all square at 18-all at half-time and neither was willing to give an inch in the third quarter, before a late turnover gave College a slender advantage which they took into the three-quarter break, 28-26.

Hampstead pounced on an early opportunity in the final quarter and drew even once again, but when it came to the crunch it was the College side which came up with the goods to win by four.

College A coach Kaye Kennedy said she was pleased with her side’s second quarter performance after the slow start.

She said once her side stopped throwing too many cross-court passes and looked after possession, they were able to get back in the game and find their rhythm.

Hampstead A coach Janene McDowell said she’d been expecting a tough battle, and after a strong performance was disappointed not to have come away with the win.

She said her side’s shooting was consistent, but their error rate through court was too high.

“We took our opportunities early, but we failed to absorb the pressure in the second half,” McDowell said.

On the next court, Methven A also found themselves having to absorb some pressure from a Celtic B side seeking their first win of the competition.

Celtic B put in one of their better performances of the season, but fell short against last year’s runners-up 23-19.

With bonus point territory being finishing within three, it meant both Celtic B and Hampstead A just missed out on taking what would’ve been the first bonus points of the competition.

Celtic B and Mt Somers are now the only winless teams after three games in round one, with Mt Somers going down to defending champions Celtic A 33-19 in Thursday night’s other premier one game.

Meanwhile, in premier two, Southern A and United A maintained their unbeaten streaks as they eye up a return to the top flight.

Southern A beat Celtic C 41-14 on Thursday night, while United A beat Methven B 48-23.

Ashburton College B beat Hampstead B 32-14 in the other game of the night.

Automatic promotion and relegation await the top team from premier two and the bottom team from premier one at the end of round one, and a big week ahead will determine which teams that wil involve.

A catch-up round was due to be played on Tuesday night, before the final games of round one took to the court on Thursday night.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 17 May 2019