UWIN 2011 - UK Women’s Indoor Nationals
Report by Helen Hobson
The Trinity women entered what is the most important tournament in the varsity women's calendar with high expectations. Having won it the last few years and with the indoor title under their belt they had a lot to live up to. However warm up matches against DCU and the knowledge that UCC were out for revenge for their indoor defeat meant that the Trinity ladies knew that holding on to their title was not going to be an easy task.
The first match of the day was against an iron-man UCD side, a team Trinity new little about going into the tie. Experience and calmness on offence seemed to win out in the end as well as having a larger squad to provide fresh legs. Trinity showed their class to win 10-3, providing a confidence boosting start to the day.
Next up were UCC, who were gunning for victory after their tight loss at Indoor's and their determination as a side. It started off as a tight game, however Trinity began and continued to rack up the points as UCC failed to convert their oppurtunities. Trinity defence in this tie was probably the best its ever been with every player going for every disk and taking away all of UCC's options coming under. A tactic that worked well with UCC relying mainly on an offence based on under cuts. The result in the end didn't reflect the quality that UCC showed, 12-2 the final score.
The third tie of the day was against a pick-up team mainly consisting of UCC players. It gave Trinity an oppurtunity to try out some new tactics before the upcoming games to prevent a sense of predictability in their play. Another great performance by Trinity saw them record another convincing victory and learn a lot about the effictivenss of their zone defence and offensive plays.
Trinity went straight into their next game against DCU. The team Trinity were most familiar with playing against. Trinity knew going into this game that it was not going to be an easy victory and that DCU would be doing everything they could to get a place in the final. It was a very close game and the lowest scoring one of the day. It ended at a very closely contested 8-5 in Trinity's favour.
This meant that the final would be a repeat of indoors, Trinity vs UCC. Having beaten UCC earlier in the day, Trinity knew that UCC were not going to accept defeat. They came out fighting as they had in the first match but once again Trinity convincingly shut down their offence. UCC never gave up fighting but Trinity held strong and won the title at a scoreline of 14-4. This meant that Trinity women were now indoor and outdoor champions of this 2010/11 varsity season once again.
Trinity-Claire Pugh(C), Heather Barry(MVP of the final and MVP), Sparky Bucker, Caoimhe Quigley, Gráinne McCarthy, Jen Kwan(MVP), Aideen Costello, Helen Hobson, Elaine McCarthy, Deirdre McGing, Orfhlaith Sheehy, Anne Leahy
