On Wednesday afternoon (10/11), Cambridge University Ladies Netball Club’s (CULNC) second team, known as the Jays, defeated the University of Bedfordshire by an emphatic score of 82-19 at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre.

Taking a short break from league action, the Jays were looking to progress to the third round of the EY Midlands Conference Cup, after receiving a BYE in the opening stage.

Cambridge got the first quarter underway, as goal attack Anna van Velsen, who was last week’s (03/11) MVP against Birmingham, opened the scoring within a matter of seconds. To make it 6-1 early on, goal shooter Kate Godsmark converted a brilliantly worked play between herself, van Velsen, and wing attack Amelia Burdett - a trio that caused the Bedfordshire defence a lot of trouble.

Although Bedfordshire enjoyed a short burst of scoring to push the tie to 7-4, the Light Blues finished the first fifteen 18-6 to the better. Godsmark was rolling her defenders effortlessly, while snappy feeds from Burdett made the lives of her shooters much easier.

Going into the second quarter, Alex Telford came on for Godsmark, giving the shooter a well-earned rest. Van Velsen really took over the scoring in this period, pushing the tally to 23-6 with five goals in a row. Telford and van Velsen linked up to produce a staggering 27 points before the half-time buzzer, executing counter attacks perfectly following a number of interceptions from both wing defence Catherine Allen and goal defence Millie Ireland-Carson. The score read 45-10 at the break.

The third fifteen saw van Velsen and Burdett on the bench, with Godsmark back on and Ines Shammah slotting into wing attack. Godsmark and Telford shared the scoring load fairly evenly, racking up eleven and seven points respectively.

Bedfordshire continued to misplace passes on the court, much thanks to the superb defensive duo of Allen and captain India Foster, whereas the Jays were able to find a perfect balance between high intensity and accurate passing. A final run of ten straight points for Cambridge ended the penultimate quarter at 63-14.

The game’s final period was summed up by a display of excellent Jays partnerships across the floor. Telford and van Velsen shouldered the scoring burden with ease, while defenders Astrid Williams and Libby Bryant dominated Cambridge’s goal circle, hardly allowing the away attackers a sniff at the net. Playmakers Burdett and Shammah also bossed the goal third, often combining together well to supply their shooters who closed the affair at 82-19.

Cambridge put on an exhibition in both shooting and passing for a tenacious Bedfordshire side that unfortunately lacked end product. Van Velsen finished the tie with 34 points, while Godsmark and Telford secured 24 apiece.

Varsity Player of the match: Anna van Velsen

Teams

Cambridge Jays: Libby Bryant (GK), Astrid Williams (GD, Vice-captain), Catherine Allen (WD), India Foster (C, Captain), Amelia Burdett (WA), Anna van Velsen (GA), Kate Godsmark (GS)

Substitutes: Alex Telford, Millie Ireland-Carson, Ines Shammah

Bedfordshire Women’s 1 Squad: Becca Maxwell, Bethany Andreassen, Eleanor Alderman, Ellie Seamark, Erin Wilkinson, Jordaan Flaherty, Libby Wright, Samantha Davies