Wildcats Assembly Report VIII

15 February 2007

1 December 2006

I start this final match report of 2006 with a riddle :

Qu. “What have Chelsea and the Wildcats got in common?”
Ans. “They're all girls.”
Qu. “What have Chelsea F.C. and the Wildcats got in common?”
Ans. “They've both got squads that have tremendous strength
in depth.”

For weeks now the squad has been itching - not because of any powder that may have been dropped in the kit bag - but itching to get on court and have more court time. Well this game against The King's School, Worcester was their opportunity and the Wildcats were up for it. With our two top goal scorers, reputedly away on international duty and unavailable for selection, the team had a unique freshness about it. Faye Halliday partnered Hannah White up front and Kelly Beaver was about to play, as Wing Attack, the most important game of her life. This was the game of all games, this was the game ALL wanted to win, this was the game that would make all the hours of training, the hours of skills practice and the hours running all worthwhile - if only we could win! With the traditional Wildcats huddle becoming a no-go zone for anyone with a weak disposition, the roar from the huddle could be heard across Worcester - we were ready. Coach Shorrocks' last words were 'Blitz 'em girls - let 'em know we've arrived'. No sooner were the words out of his mouth and Wildcats were eating their way through the opposition. Nothing seemed to stand in their way. Hannah White and Faye Halliday could not miss . . both longs and shorts were going in and the Wildcats in no time had a 7 - 0 lead. I say again 7 - 0. For those that don't understand that's 7 Wildcat goals to 0 goals from King's. If that isn't a Blitzkrieg, then I'm not . . . . The defence was solid; Ellie Brown, Danni Mason and Kelly Beaver, who was playing the game of her life, were linking well whilst the offence was awesome. 8 - 1 at the end of the first quarter became 12 - 5 at half-time and with the pressure mounting King's tried to get back into the game. It looked like Wildcats were beginning to freeze and they just couldn't get hold of the ball in the 3rd quarter. King's scored 3 goals in quick succession and it took all of Hannah White's experience in tense games to settle the nerves and net our first goal of the third quarter. After that the spirits flowed, the nerves disappeared and we saw some real Wildcat quality. Indeed it was more than the spirits that flowed - it was getting bloodier out there by the minute as Faye Halliday received a nasty deep cut to the arm by the claws of the opposition. Undeterred she fought on like a true Wildcat and the King's comeback was all but over. RGS led 18 - 9 at the end of the crucial third quarter. Some good maths by Danni Mason at the break told us that with King's needing 10 goals to win and there being 10 minutes of play left in the match, King's needed to score one goal every minute - outstanding!! We needed a good start. With Cathy Dowty's marker having given up on her, Cathy found herself in acres of space and with intelligent passing got the ball into the front two with ease. Hannah White's shooting continued to be unbelievable as her goal tally went into double figures and with two goals early on in the final quarter, King's were out of it. With Beckie Brown and Ellie Brown shoring up the defence, the attack didn't get a look in.

The final score - Wildcats 22 The King's School Worcester 9

Top Cat Award :- All played so well that it was difficult to declare a Top Cat - but it was decided that as hot shot Hannah White had produced one of the most outstanding displays of goal shooting ever seen in a Wildcat shirt that she should get the award.

Top Cat Awards

JMS (1) v. Cheltenham Ladies
Lydia Jeffcoat (1) v. Kings' U.16 Tournament
Rachael Gwilt (1) v. St. Mary's
Danni Mason (1) v. Alice Ottley
Faye Halliday (1) v. Prince Henry's
Beckie Brown (1) v. Dodderhill
Hannah White (1) v. The King's School

Magical Moment of the match

Watching Kelly with her back facing Faye attempt to play an unbelievable pass over her head. It would have worked had Faye been expecting it. Another one of coach Shorrocks' lessons that still has to be learnt - 'expect the unexpected'.

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