The Honiton Netball Summer League has seen an increase in the number of teams competing and there are now 20 teams playing in the two divisions, writes Graham Ingram.

The summer is traditionally a time in Honiton netball for a more ‘quirky’ season.

This year it’s a ‘Pick and Mix’ approach, with opposing captains able to alter the opponents’ team’s positions combined with a goal handicap system.

With 20 teams they have been divided into two divisions of 10 without priority so your reporter has named them left and right!

In the left division, the two new teams found the going tough with Tornados going down 16-50 to winter champions Hi Q and HoneyZ on the wrong end of an 57-18 defeat to winter division one side Toucan Chicks.

There were also wins for Ford and Pentecost Panthers by 37-18 over Swaggermamas with the mamas, denied a point by a single goal, just failing to score over half of the Panthers winning score.

Signs South West, after a disappointing winter got off to a good start with a win over Pixies, although the margin was a slender two goals at 40-38.

Otter Valley also won by the same margin, recording a 32-30 victory over Tip Top Trees.

There are also two new teams in right division, namely Cranbrook Arrows and High Tide.

Although both suffered defeats in their opening games they both did well enough to gain a point each from their endeavours.

Beer Balzers recorded a fine win by 46-32 over Cranbrook, whilst HNC Hot Shots were the highest scoring team on the opening day with a 65-48 win over High Tide, in what was the highest scoring game of the opening night.

Old rivals Flamingos and Otters met on the opening night and it was honours to Flamingos as their 40-20 victory put them top of the table and left Otters routed at the foot.

After mixed fortunes in the winter for JD Tyres and a disappointing season for Hawks they met in a close contest with JD taking the honours by 41-32 whilst in the final contest of the evening Toucans recorded a 39-30 win against old adversaries Blackdown.

Tables

Division Left P GD Pts

Toucans Chicks 1 39 3

Hi Q 1 34 3

Ford & Pentecost Panthers 1 19 3

Signs South West 1 2 3

Otter Valley 1 2 3

Pixies 1 -2 1

Tip Top Trees 1 -2 1

Swaggermamas 1 -19 0

Tornados 1 -34 0

HoneyZ 1 -39 0

Division Right P GD Pts

Flamingos 1 20 3

HNC Hot Shots 1 17 3

Beer Blazers 1 14 3

JD Tyres 1 9 3

Sidmouth Toucans 1 9 3

Howden Hawks 1 -9 1

Blackdown 1 -9 1

Cranbrook Arrows 1 -14 1

High Tide 1 -17 1

Otters 1 -20 0

Players of the matches by team.

Tornados - Laura Dawson; HoneyZ - Louise Birkhead; Swaggermamas – Michala Hawks; Pixies - Emily Hardingham; Otter Valley - Lizzie Ricketts; Tip Top Trees - Lois Norman; Signs South West - Christina Oyo; Ford & Pentecost Panthers - Julie Hastings; Toucans Chicks - Zoe Kidson; Hi Q - Bev Parris; Otters - Amy Colwell; High Tide - Courtney Wilber; Beer Blazers - Rosie Bennett; JD Tyres - Katie White; Blackdown - Kirsty Selway; Sidmouth Toucans - Anna Rowson; Howden Hawks - Helen French; Cranbrook Arrows - Stacy Squires; HNC Hot Shots - Rebecca Copp; Flamingos - Olivia Warwick.