Bears WWBC travelled to Nottingham Wildcats Arena at the weekend for the first round of the BWB Women’s league.  The Bears had a tough weekend ahead of them, playing two teams on Saturday and Sunday.

The Bears were welcoming back Anna Turney into the team, after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl only recently. The bears also gave debuts to two new faces in Jaymee Powell and Jenny lee Rollason.

Saturday 12th November 2016 

Stoke Spitfires 6

Bears WBC  34

First game up for the Bears was against Stoke Spitfires, and from the tip Bears dominated the court in offence and defence.  The Bears used their dominance to  give a good run out for the returning Anna Turney and their two new recruits.  Next up for the Bears were Angels of the North 3  who were meeting the Bears again, after last season. 

Angels of the North 3  44

Bears WBC  17 

The Bears were up against a stronger Angels of the North 3  who had recruited heavily from last season, including only 2 players from last year’s team.  The Bears started nervously and were put under pressure and had no response to Angel’s forwards scoring heavily in the Bears’ basket.  The second half saw the Bears regroup and come out with a more determined defence, limiting the Angels to only 9 points, but were unable to make any in roads into the final score.

Sunday 13th November 2016 

Bears WBC  26

Stoke Spitfires 11 

The Bears had an early start on the Sunday session, once again playing Spitfires, but before the game started the Spitfires did not have enough players, so in the spirit the game is played, the Bears allowed one of their players to play for Spitfires against them.  Even with the added of bonus of having Jaymee Powell playing for them Spitfires were unable to hold back a determined Bears team, who ran out comfortable winners.

Bears WBC  24

Angels of the North 3  16

Next up for the Bears was a rematch against Angels of the North 3 and from the off he Bears were determined to put right the mistakes from the previous day.  From the start the Bears’ defence came out on top. The Bears played a high intensity defence, preventing Angels forwards from gaining any opportunities, whilst staying within touch at the other end.  With both teams going into the second half it was the Bears who stepped up their offence and moved into the lead in the last quarter and held on to the end to overturn the result from the previous day.

At the end of the weekend Coach Robinson commented.

“The ladies have done fantastic this weekend, with a heavy schedule of two games per day, for such a small squad. But with the pride these girls have, they weren’t going to give anything less than 100% for all the games.  It was also great to see Anna Turney back playing again, and the new girls Jaymee Powell and Jenny-Lee Rollason were brilliant in their first women’s league games.”

Also at the end of the weekend Anna Turney said “Playing for the Bears this weekend was one of my most exhilarating experiences since having my baby.  I loved getting back on court and feeling the blood pumping.  It’s such a fast exciting game.  The team spirit is great and we were all delighted with our hard fought successes.”