Premier Division2
Linden 58 Essex Open 35
In a dismal display Essex Open were comprehensively defeated by A Linden team who dominated from the start. Fielding a strong side Essex went into this game hoping to secure vital points in their quest to remain in Division 2. However, to all intents and purposes the game was all over at the end of the first quarter which saw Essex trail 19-8.
Rarely has an Essex Open team given away so much possession and failed to win a number of 50/50 balls. In addition, when they did manage to create chances the shooting was not up to the standard set by the impressive Linden team. A poor start meant Essex were soon 9-4 down and Linden were then able to reel off 6 goals in succession to further put them beyond the reach of a dispirited Essex side.
Essex made several changes at the first interval and for the first part of the second quarter Essex kept pace with Linden scoring six goals each. Rochelle Reynolds-Blance had come on at wing defence and was working hard with Isabella Morgan-Smith and Leanne Spencer to stem the flow of Linden attacks. Just as Essex were hauling themselves back into the game Linden were able to reel off 7 goals without reply to take the game totally beyond Essex as they trailed 34-18 at half time.
Further changes in the third quarter saw Essex with a different line once again. Although Essex were more competitive, they were never able to make any inroads into the deficit. At the end of a better third quarter Linden had still managed to extend their lead as they went 48-28 in front.
In the last quarter Essex gave a premiership debut to Saffron Hancock who acquitted herself well as shooter but again Essex were unable to have any impact on the deficit. It was a case of damage limitation for Essex and when the final whistle went Essex had suffered their biggest defeat since September as the final score line saw Linden take a 58-35 victory. Essex have five games left to secure their division 2 future and will need to win two of them!

Stewart, Odeogberin, Spencer, Reynolds-Blanche, I Morgan-Smith, R Wilks, Edwards, Hancock, Tchine, Hazelden, Humphrey