Boswells Blaze 3 -1 Tameside 25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24
Having won the U16 girls final earlier in the day, Tameside were looking to do the double and add the U18 title to their accolades. However they were up against a strong Boswells Blaze side containing Nicole Parish and Mechell Daniel, key players for Malory Eagles and Esther Daniels who had competed in the Women’s Cup Final the previous day plus Freya Wincott and Sophie Haydon who won the National Shield with Tendring.
The first point went to Tameside following a net touch call from the referee, but Boswells hit straight back with a big swing from Nicole Parish. The scores couldn’t have been closer at the first time out, with Boswells leading 8-7. More big hitting from Parish and Daniel opened up a 5 point lead, forcing Tameside into a time out at 8-13 down. The pressure from the Boswells attack continued as Tameside never managed to recover the deficit, eventually losing the first set 25-18.
Tameside managed to turn things around at the start of the second set, taking a 3 point lead into the first technical timeout. Boswells slowly start to peg Tameside back, reducing the deficit to 1 point by the second technical time out. Solid a defence and consistent attacks allowed Boswells to take the lead and close out the second set 25-23.
Bowells Blaze quickly found themselves 5-4 up in the third set even though their setter Esther Daniel had been called a few times for carries. Both teams were now playing at the top of their game, both demonstrating their defensive and offensive abilities. It was Tameside who looked to have the upper hand at the second technical time out, leading 16-14. Boswells coach Darren Lewis was forced to call a timeout with his team 17-20 down as the third set looked like it was slipping away from them. It seemed to work as Boswells came out firing as another big smash found the line. A huge block from Tameside’s Sarah van Essen on Mechell Daniel followed by a poor set gave Tameside. Boswells saved one but were powerless to stop a big hit from the front as Tameside won 25-20 and took the match into a fourth set.
Boswells raced to a 3-0 lead with some big cross court hitting from Daniel but were pegged back to 6-6 as Tameside led 8-7 at the firs time out. Tameside continued to build their advantage and led 16-13 at the second time out. Tameside coach Richard Jump called a timeout at 21-21, knowing that the next few points could make or break the set. It was nailbiting stuff as the teams traded point, but it was Boswells who came out on top, taking the title with a 26-24 fourth set win.
MVP: Nicole Parish (Boswells Blaze)
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