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Chelmsford get Whacked off course Chelmsford seconds saw any chance of the Division 2 title slip away at the weekend when they were unable to overcome a strong Brentwood Whackers side at Sawyers Hall. The visitors took the first set but went on to a 3-1 loss. Player of the match Kamila Wawrzela for Chelmsford was the stand out consistent attacker. In their final Essex Division 2 match before the Xmas break Chelmsford had a few late call offs for illness but cannot argue with the result. In set one Chelmsford started with Richard Bohannan and Gary Mower setting, Ian Reeve and Claudia Lambert (captain) middle attack with the outside hitting duties falling to Matt Ruffell and Jamie Forrester. Chelmsford started well forcing early errors from Brentwood who strangely seemed to think their home court was bigger, failing to serve in and hitting out the sidelines. Throughout the set Chelmsford pulled steadily away with some especially clever touches from Lambert to beat the taller Will Brown at the net. 25-20 Chelmsford and all going well. Set two saw the same six face a revitalised Brentwood who found a gap in the visitors defence in mid court. They continued to exploit this and with Chelmsford’s attackers strangely subdued, the home side confidently outscored Chelmsford. The visitors cause was not helped when at 4-2 Mower had to go off after being poked in the eye by one of his own team: Peacock came on as substitute. Up to 21 all the set could have gone either way and as so often it was a stray net cord that made the difference giving Brentwood an advantage they seized to take the set 25-21. The next set saw Marcin Kawulski and Kamila Wawrzela join the Chelmsford front line both making an immediate impact. Kawulski quickly subdued Brown in attack with his blocking and Wawrzela hit a series of deep cross court hits that won several points. The rest of the Chelmsford side were more subdued and with the first ball unsteady against the serving of Sparrow and Walker, Wawrzela’s point scoring was not enough. Chelmsford all too often played the ball just where the Brentwood players were standing and they speedily repaid with interest by attacking at all points along the net. The set went to the home team 25-19. In the fourth Mower returned to set but was unable to inspire a comeback. For the first part of the set the Chelmsford team seemed leaden footed and with some luck at the net going the way of Brentwood the home aside were quickly 8-4 up. More misery followed as Sparrow and French went on service runs and although at 17-6 down a time out stopped the rot, Chelmsford had too far behind to catch up. Some wonderful attacking and defending from Wawrzela and good serving from Peacock briefly revived hopes by set point came to soon for the rally to be effective. The 25-16 final score line allowed Whackers to take the game 3-1 and with it the Division title. Later in the evening a reflective Chelmsford coach, Ken Edwards refused to be too
downhearted. ‘All nine players we used had good run outs and played well. The game
plan was sound and although we executed it most of the time, against a taller and harder
hitting side this was not enough on the day. Sets two and three could so easily have gone
the other way and only at the start of set four did I feel were outplayed. This part of
the year is still about development and I know we have a strong squad to go into part two
of the season. I am particularly pleased to see Kamila win player of the match as she
reads the game well and is not overawed by the taller men she is often up against’ |