The final matches of the Honiton Netball League winter competition were played on the third Monday of April, writes Steph Upson.

Sidmouth Chicks had everything to play for as they went into their meeting with last year’s Division One Winter Season winners, Hi Q, for they knew a win and Chicks would be crowned this year’s winners.

However, it was not to be, as Hi Q took the match honours to the tune of a 31-24 final score after what was an exhilarating contest. That all meant that Chicks had to settle for the runners-up berth behind champions Flamingos, who lifted the top honour by virtue of having a better goal difference.

Flamingos’ final game was against HNC Hot Shots in a game that produced no fewer than 93 goals!, with Flamingos scoring the greater amount to win the game and that also boosted the points difference to lift the top honour.

Also in Division One, Sidmouth Toucans played well against HNC 3Ts, scoring 33 goals while they conceded just nine.

In Division Two, Sidmouth Eagles played Signs South West. It has been an extremely successful first winter season for the young team and they ended their first winter league on a high, securing their fourth win in as many matches with a 35-30 score line in their favour.

It all means that Eagles will be promoted to Division One next season as winners of Division Two with runners-up Beer Blazers going up with them as runners-up.

Despite missing their usual goal attack, Pixies held their own in their match against JD Tyres and prevented JD from taking three points, resulting in them missing out on promotion and finishing as runners-up. Pixies won their game 28-17.

The final match to report on is that of Otter Valley against HNC Honeyz. Otter Valley secured a large goal difference and win from the match after it finished 24-5.

With the winter season over, the league looks forward to the Summer League, where an adapted netball game will be played. Titled ‘Fast Net’, teams will be permitted to score from outside the D, resulting in double points being collected.

All teams will also select a quarter to be used as their ‘power play’ quarter – in these 12 minutes, any goals scored will be doubled.

The league has welcomed some new teams into the summer league, which has resulted in three divisions being created. The season started earlier this week.

Final tables.

Division 1

Table A GP W D L GF GA GD Pts

Flamingos 4 3 0 1 156 90 66 10

Sidmouth Chicks 4 3 0 1 114 102 12 10

HNC Hot Shots 4 2 0 2 137 160 -23 8

HiQ 4 1 1 2 98 111 -13 6

TNC Otters 4 0 1 3 104 146 -42 4

Division One

Table B GP W D L GF GA GD Pts

Panthers 4 4 0 0 137 84 53 12

Blackdown 4 3 0 1 113 78 35 10

Sidmouth Toucans 4 2 0 2 112 88 24 8

High Tide 4 1 0 3 78 102 -24 6

HNC 3 T’s 4 0 0 4 52 140 -88 1

Division 2

Table A GP W D L GF GA GD Pts

Sidmouth Eagles 4 4 0 0 133 82 51 12

Beer Blazers 4 2 0 2 122 93 29 8

JD Tyres 4 2 0 2 86 104 -18 7

SSW 4 1 0 3 118 135 -17 6

Pixies 4 1 0 3 85 130 -45 4

Division 2

Table B GP W D L GF GA GD Pts

TNC Tornados 4 4 0 0 134 54 80 12

Otter Valley 4 3 0 1 121 59 62 10

Cranbrook Arrows 4 2 0 2 109 76 33 8

HNC Honeyz 4 1 0 3 55 98 -43 4

Jurassic’s 4 0 0 4 23 155 -132 0

Team by team Player of the Match awardwinners from the final round of games.

Otter Valley - Lizzie Ricketts; HNC Honeyz - Tamer Lapping; SSW - Michaela Sydenham; Sidmouth Eagles - Kate Marriott; JD Tyres - Jennie Briant; Pixies - Georgie Selley; HNC 3 T’s - Jenny Robinson; Sidmouth Toucans - Louise Neilson; Sidmouth Chicks - Charlotte Yorke; HiQ - Amy Fullick; Flamingos - Olivia Warwick; HNC Hot Shots - Martha Halse