CT vs Lapwings 5/1/13

Saturday 5th January 2013: Cheadle Thunder 21 - Lapwings 31

Half time score: Cheadle Thunder 10 - Lapwings 7

Thunder team: Kane, Tom, Joe, Matt, Sol, Josh, Dan

Points scored: Josh 13, Joe 4, Matt 2, Sol 2

Lapwings points scored: Darcia 9, Emily 8, Libby P 8, Iona 4, Tash 2

Despite a late tip-off as bibs were hunted out to distinguish between two teams in green, Thunder made a strong and convincing start against a weakened Lapwings side.  For the first three minutes the action was end-to-end but nothing was going in for either team.

Finally, Josh opened the scoring and the two teams stayed close after that.  Sol sunk an excellent two-pointer from just inside the three point line and Thunder went into half time with a 10-7 advantage.

Sol, Matt, Josh and Joe kicked up the energy level at the start of the second half and soon Thunder were in a convincing 18-13 lead with about 13 minutes left on the clock.  There were lots of good runs and passes as Thunder pressed forward.

That's when it all went wrong and a game Thunder should have wrapped up ended with a comfortable victory for Lapwings as they piled on the pressure and the points.  Thunder seemed to give up, making little effort to secure offensive or defensive rebounds and letting too many sloppy passes go astray.  Lapwings took full advantage with a number of sharp interceptions and some good shooting.

Lapwings put on ten points without Thunder managing to reply, then added another eight with Thunder scoring three.

The reffing in this game was good, with few disputed decisions and the game allowed to flow well.