Important wins for Essex.

Essex Open A 48 Essex Open B 42
In an entertaining game Essex Open A defeated their B team despite a poor start to the game which allowed the B team to dominate the first quarter.
It was the B team who made the best start with Nicky Wilks, Ellie Stanley and Becky Mead getting lots of possession for shooters Sophia Sefton and Siobahn Livingstone to put them into an early 4-1 lead. Essex Open A fought back and reduced the deficit to 8-7 as Leah Hazleden and Rochelle Reynolds- Blanche found the net with increasing regularity. Towards the end of the quarter the B team got away from the A team to taken an unexpected 13-9 lead into the first interval.
The second quarter proved to be decisive as the A team took a grip on proceedings. Rebecca Wilks, Isabella Morgan-Smith and Sam Lawrence started to dominate the centre court and Hazleden and Reynolds-Blanche scored freely. At the other end Michelle Stewart and Leanne Spencer were dominating the circle and making it very difficult for the B team to create chances. a dominant second quarter display saw the A team overturn the deficit to take a 25-18 lead at half time.
The third quarter was far more evenly contested but Hazleden and Reynolds-Blanche were always able to score sufficient goals to maintain a healthy lead. With a quarter to go the game was effectively over as the A team l d 39-27.
To their credit the B team came back strongly in the last quarter with Livingstone and Jaida Simpson scoring freely. With the score at 46-32 the A team threatened to pull away. However he B team finished the game stringy with a string of goals as they reduced the deficit to 6 when the final whistle went.

A team Stewart, Spencer, R Wilks, Biss, I Morgan-Smith, Lawrence, Hazleden, Reynolds-Blanche
B team: Dawkins, Campbell, N Wilks, Stanley, Mead, Sefton, Livingstone, Simpson

Essex Open C 53 Chigwell Ladies 31
Essex Open C enjoyed a comfortable victory over near rivals Chigwell Ladies to remain top of division 4 and keep their unbeaten record intact. In very difficult conditions Essex and Chigwell matched each other almost goal for goal. Mid way through the first quarter Essex held a narrow 6-5 lead. However Monet Jervier, Kate Wilks and Jess Fray took control of the centre court creating numerous chances for Jaida Simpson and Mairhead Sheehy which they took full advantage of. In the last part of the quarter Essex totally dominated and scored 9 goals with Chigwell Ladies managing only a solitary response. At the end of the first quarter Essex led 15-6.
The second quarter was far more evenly contested wth Chigwell fighting hard to get back into the game. However Niamh Bentley and Mollie Murphy were working hard in defence making life difficult for the Chigwell shooters. With Simpson and Sheehy continuing to shoot well Essex maintained their advantage to enjoy a 27-15 lead at half time.
The third quarter followed a similar pattern with Essex always having the edge. Shooting was very difficult and in a low scoring quarter Essex slightly extended their lead to go 37-23 in front with a quarter to go.
In the last quarter Beth Lamb came on as shooter and soon found the net on a regular basis. As a result Essex further extended their lead and ran out 53-31 winners.
Bentley, Murphy, Jervier, K Wilks, Fray, Simpson, Sheehy, Lamb.

Other results
In division 4 Essex open D were defeated 29-16 by Sapphire. In division 7 Essex Open E remain in second place after defeating Chigwell Ladies 2 33-18. In the same division Essex Open F won 31-3 against Marshalls White whilst in division 9 Essex Open G lost out narrowly to Cumberlnd 4th team 18-17.