The only reason I have to dislike Netball is the nickety-pickety nature of some of the rules and the nickety-pickety nature of some of the officials applying the nickety-pickety rules. That said, it has one marvellous rule and that is that each team will have the same amount of opportunities to possess the ball. It then follows, that the team that makes the most of those opportunities, will win.

It really is that simple… The team that makes the fewest errors will win.

So it was on Saturday, two very evenly matched teams played four very even quarters, Lawn made two fewer errors and ultimately won out 45-41. However, it’s a testament to Corsham Ladies that they gave the second placed team in the division a real scare and ultimately lost courtesy of any two miniscule errors hidden in the general melee’. A tough well played encounter with many excellent individual performances.

Lawn go on to their battle royal with Nationwide next weekend and, irrespective of the result, will celebrate their inevitable promotion. Bravo to them.

What of Corsham, their season, that I might label “frustrating” or “middle of the road”, ends on Saturday with a dead rubber against an ailing Burmah outfit that has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks…- given the number of skiing-related injuries they may have literally, as well as metaphorically, fallen of a cliff -. Corsham will finish 5th – top half – whatever the result although, I know, the ladies will not be settling for second at the weekend…

Correspondents’ player; Can’t choose, all played well and I feel it would be unfair to single out any single player.

Lawn player; Mandy Thorne, no complaints here, a sound and disruptive performance… What every reputable WD should aspire to. A tremendous fillip for WD’s everywhere that, despite the unglamorous nature of the position, accolades await for an excellent performance.

Have a tremendous summer and see you all in September…