Missed chances cost the Jets dear as they suffer a narrow loss

Yorkshire Jets were narrowly beaten 48-44 by Team Northumbria in Newcastle last night in round five of the Vitality Netball Superleague – but it was a story of what might have been for the visitors.

Anna Carter’s Jets had a series of missed opportunities across the game, particularly in the second half, and lost by four points.

It was a tightly contested opening quarter of the game with the action moving from end to end. Good work from both sides in attack and defence meant the scores were level at the end of the first 15 minutes.

The second quarter continued as the first ended. When Jets managed to get a run of play together and move ahead, Team Northumbria then did the same to level the scores. It was the hosts who went into half-time ahead though with two late goals meaning they led 25-23.

After the break, the scoring at both ends resumed, but Jets were too frequently playing catch-up and let the North East side pull out a lead thanks to some errors and missed opportunities. Some strong play from Jets’ Fijian shooter Maria Lutua kept the visitors in it but Team Northumbria led by four with 15 minutes to go.

In quarter four, the hosts extended their lead and all too often were able to turn over the Jets centre pass but the visitors came back as the clock counted down and it left the margin of victory at four points.

A narrow defeat for Jets but they will be frustrated at missing out on the opportunity to get their first win of the season. It’s now a week until the next game when Celtic Dragons visits Leeds on Monday 29 February in round 6 of the competition.