NULC Ladies Basketball Squad finish undefeated!!

Undefeated all season, NULC’s ladies basketball team set the standard of playing high from when the league first started. Beating Birmingham Met’s at home would seal the title for the team who was only put together this year.

Following on and keeping the basketball name in credit, the newly formed ladies team had a lot of pressure on them in regards to maintaining training standards and playing. Through pre-season training, the newly formed team learned the basic fundamentals of play and had to work their way from the very bottom, this would prove hard but by patient coaching and team work they pulled through.

The team would face a tough challenge in the first match ever as they found themselves up against Birmingham Met’s, the title holders and dominators of basketball. This would soon change and NULC would push them to their limits, putting themselves in the lead for the first quarter. During the second and third quarter, NULC would drop the heat allowing Birmingham to bring back points and eventually take the lead. With only the fourth quarter left NULC did not want to lose! They fought hard as a team and with the final minutes to go it was nail biting for the coaches to watch. Hard work paid off as NULC would take the lead by only 2 baskets. From this moment on NULC’s bond was stronger than ever and they knew that they could achieve success in this forthcoming season.

With a strong start and stating of presence in the basketball league, NULC ladies would go on to win every other game in the league, and before they knew it they had to face Birmingham Mets again to seal the league title. Getting this far for the ladies had been a rocky ride, however they always pulled through. With goals set and the strive for success the ladies were not giving in until the league title was theirs. With the home court advantage and the fans behind them what better way to win, they didn’t only win by a couple of baskets, they defeated the former champions and won 42:28.

“NULC ladies now have to train harder than ever to create even more success. Nothing could stop the ladies winning the league as they were in front by goal difference by a staggering 62 points. However now they need to push themselves to climb up the basketball ladder.”

Every player should be proud of themselves for their achievement, and for them to do this all in their first year of playing together as a team, and for the first year ladies basketball has ran at NULC, this has to show for something.

All they can do is develop further as players and a team, and see what they can do in the forthcoming season, they will always put up a fight in any oncoming challenge they have to face!!

Winners of BCS West Midlands Division 1 Ladies Basketball.

 

 

British Colleges Sport Update

Dear Colleagues

Please find attached the latest BCS national newsletter (May 2014 - Issue 21). This issue of ‘Your BCS’ is a College Sport Week special covering all the information from the event from the conferences, national finals, gala dinner and awards ceremonies.   

 

Further copies can be downloaded from our website http://www.bcsport.org/resources.aspx.

Men's Volleyball Squad Win National Colleges Cup.

NUL College 2-0 Petroc

After winning the toss NUL chose to serve and started with some good serves from Joe Richardson to take an early lead which really set them tempo of the whole game. Petroc came back into the game but once some good passing from Cameron Rhodes and hits from Zakk Hadgett and Jordan Adelburgh Newcastle raced into the lead. Once Will Richardson saw a run of 8 serves becoming unanswerable from Petroc it was only a matter of time that Newcastle would take the first set 25-14. Again in the second set Newcastle started well but Petroc gathered some flow to keep a tight second set close up until the scores reached 14-14. Jordan Adelburgh then showed some class and experience in some great hits. Cameron Rhodes chipped in with some big winning points too. Newcastle reached 24 leaving Petroc behind on 18. A late rally from Petroc saw the scores 24-22 but the reliable Joe Richardson set up Connor Grimes for a lovely improvised winner that brought the game to an end at 25-22. A well deserved MVP went to captain Will Richardson who hit 6 winning points from a possible 6 sets and never gave Petroc a sniff with his relentless accurate serving. Some individual great performances today but an outstanding team performance from all players saw the national knock out cup brought back to NULC academy towers!

Newcastle-under-Lyme College Netball Triumph again!!

Unbeaten at home, what has been a fantastic season came to its conclusion in style with the last league match versus Cirencester on 30^th April.  A win would secure the NUL squad top spot in the BCS West Midlands 1^st Division for the first time since 2010/11?

Going into the Cirencester match, Hereford had temporarily pushed NUL off the top spot but, with a goal average better than theirs already, all we had to do was win - even if only by 1 goal!

Having convincingly won the game against Cirencester before Christmas we were confident but at the same time nervous.  After all, this was an away match, at an unknown venue, following a journey of 2.5 hours, against a team (Cirencester) who were finishing mid table and had nothing to lose.  Also with only 7 players from our 11-strong squad available, there were no substitutes to provide ‘fresh legs’ or cover possible injuries should it prove necessary.

Netball coaches, Carolyn Owen and Ami Pickerill, asked the players to go out hard from the start of the game to ensure a strong lead at the end of the first quarter, to concentrate on making the right decisions and to maintain their passing accuracy.

NUL won the first quarter by 8, the second quarter by 5 and the third by 7. This cushion of 20 goals gave us options to move players around and, despite drawing the last quarter 11 all, we won the game 53 v 33 maintaining the 20 goal margin and improving our goal difference and average even further.

Jess Barnes and Liv Stevenson maintained a high level of shooting accuracy with an average of around 70% throughout the match.  Centre court players Becky Hall, Molly Line and Charlotte Thompson provided attacking opportunities by adding pressure on their opponents to delay their play and force errors. Defenders Dom Ford-Gordon and Jas Darlington dominated the defensive third, creating turnovers by gaining possession through interceptions and rebounds. 

The best quote of the game came from Jas when, having been amazed by Jess Barnes’ manoeuvre in order to shoot closer to the post, saw the Cirencester Goal Shooter execute a similar move and loudly exclaimed “she’s just done a Jess!”.  Moments later, in an attempt to intercept, Dom at full speed could not stop herself from piggy-backing the Goal Attack – oh, for a camera J

To finish top of Division 1 is a great achievement and to do so with a squad of mainly first year students bodes well for next season. 

National Coach and Player of the Year for Knights!

 

Jamison Named Coach of the Year

The NULC Knights continue to pick up post season honours.
Head Basketball Coach Shawn Jamison has been named England Basketball Division 4 Midlands Coach of The Year. The American born play caller is in hi...s 3rd year as NULC Knights Head Basketball Coach.
This year Coach Jamison led the Knights to a Division Championship and 2 Semi Final appearances. The Knights also received automatic promotion to Division 3 this year by winning the England Basketball Division 4 Championship.
The former Harlem Globetrotter had this to say," Success happens when you have good people around you striving for the same common goal. This is what I had around me this year good people!! I hope that we made Newcastle under Lyme College proud and we as a team helped influence the youth in the city to get involved in this great sport that we call Basketball."

3rd year as NULC Knights Head Basketball Coach.
This year Coach Jamison led the Knights to a Division Championship and 2 Semi Final appearances. The Knights also received automatic promotion to Division 3 this year by winning the England Basketball Division 4 Championship. The former Harlem Globetrotter had this to say," Success happens when you have good people around you striving for the same common goal. This is what I had around me this year good people!! I hope that we made Newcastle under Lyme College proud and we as a team helped influence the youth in the city to get involved in this great sport that we call Basketball."

 

 

 

Jones Named Player Of The Year

The NULC Knights received news that one of its family members has been awarded England's Basketball Division 4 player of the year for the Midlands Conference.
Kieran Jones was voted in by EB and other coaches from around the Midlands Division.
Jones who is a Birmingham native is in his first year with NULC Knights had this to say, "This past year with Newcastle Under Lyme Knights Basketball team has been, by far the toughest and most eye opening year in my life as a basketball player to date.
Coach Jamison has dared me to challenge myself with every pass, every dribble, every shot and every decision I make.

He will accept nothing less from me and my team than 100% effort.
I guess his drive and determination to be the best is just rubbing off on us!"
Jones was the driving force on a Knights team that won a league championship and also made 2 semi-final appearances all in his first year.
Coach Jamison had this to say about Jones," He comes and puts in the work everyday. I am a very tough coach to play for but I think he now understands why I am so tough on him and all of my players."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staffordshire Floodlit Cup Final

Monday 28^th April 2014

Venue: Stafford Rangers 7.30 KO

 

Wolverhampton Casuals FC 1 V 2 Newcastle Town College Team

 

Team News

Ryan Wintle and Robson Healy both declared not fit and Dave Jones still awaiting international clearing.

Squad

1)      Joe Mellor

2)       Jake Stanbridge,

3)      Cal Lovatt

4)      Harvey Collins

5)      Stu Dicken

6)      Olly Kataya

7)      Kev Davies

8)      Alex Cambell

9)      Cal Kenny

10)   Josh Rhodes (Capt)

11)   Jake Lloyd

12)   John Ngindu

13)   Luke Humphries

14)   Louis Downes

15)   Zach Robinson

16)   Evans Ofori

 

The game Kicked Off and NULC made a good positive start to the game in the initial stages, however after an edgy/nervous start from both teams the game appeared very well balanced.  Both teams played in a similar formation (4.5.1) which appeared to cancel each other out. Most of the game was being battled out in the middle of the park with no one really carving out a goal scoring opportunity either end.  However on 14mins Casuals forced a corner.  The delivery was poor and Josh Rhodes should have cleared but missed the ball completely, the ball hit the Casuals No 9, before anyone had realised it, it was in the back of our net, not the best start to a final!

The game carried on where it had left off before the goal and both teams continued to battle it out in midfield and there was not much football being played, both teams appeared to be frightened of making a mistake.  Half time came 1 V 0 to The Casuals.

 

NULC were asked to try and play, to get the ball down and pass, and when the 2^nd half got underway NULC started to impose themselves more on the game.  NULC were having most of the possession as Casuals chose to sit deeper and deeper. Casuals were organised and well versed and although NULC had 70% possession they were finding it hard to create any sort of an opening to score.

The eventual break came from some quick thinking from Jake Stanbridge (yes I repeat some quick thinking from Jake Stanbridge!!) he took a quick throw in, that found the end of a good run by Kev Davies.  Kev could have shot himself but instead chose to cross and try to find Jake Lloyd unmarked as he entered the penalty area, as the defender attempted to get back he clinically put the ball in his own net.  1 v 1 and 25 mins to go.

 

At last this gave NULC belief that they could win this game and everyone appeared to raise the game that little bit more. But as Casuals continued to defend well it was difficult to see where the next goal was going to come from.  The only time Casuals looked dangerous was on free kicks, which NULC were giving away in their frustration.  But good defending from NULC prevented Casuals from conjuring up any direct threat on Joe Mellor’s Goal.

 

Time for change and NULC bought on two forwards, John Ngindu and Evans Ofori with 20 minutes remaining.  Now it really was one way traffic and surely only a matter of time before NULC scored again.  And although the substitutions made a positive impact, resulting in some half chances for NULC, again Casuals stood firm and the longer the game went on, NULC were more in danger of conceding from a set piece or a break away.

The 4^th official had signalled 3 minutes remaining, and we and all the supporters settled in for the next stage, extra time.  The 4^th official then confirmed that there would be 5mins of injury time and the game continued. As we started to prepare for Extra time a direct ball was played forward by Kev Davies, trying to find the pace of Evans Ofori, however it appeared to be over hit and the Casuals Goal Keeper looked favourite to come out to collect the ball.  However Evans showed a real turn of pace and determination to get between the Goal Keeper and Casuals last defender and somehow managed to direct the ball past the keeper, it seemed to take an eternity to cross the line. But it did finally arrive in the back of the net.

The place went ballistic and celebrations ensued, castle felt that they had got their hands on the cup at last.

There was about 20seconds to go and play resumed, casuals played the ball aimlessly up front, right on the head on Cal Lovatt, Cal just had to clear and the game was won, however Joe Mellor seemingly called for the ball and Cal, caught in 2 minds, attempted to head the ball back to him, it caught everyone by surprise, including Casuals striker, who for the first time in the game had a clear chance on goal – Joe Mellor pulled off a fabulous save, to maintain the lead, but the ball was still in play. Casuals could smell blood and NULC could not clear the ball, Harvey Collins lunged in twice to try to clear and when he finally did get the ball his clearance again fell to the feet of the oncoming Casuals winger, his cross was a good one, but Stu Dicken was there to head clear and when Cal Lovatt finally cleared the ball up field, it was over and the Ref blew for full time.

 

‘Few what a way to win a final!!!!!  Now I know why I am so grey’.

NULC had done it, they had won the CUP for Town and College and at last had something to show for all of their efforts and hard work over the whole of the season.

Well done to everyone involved, it was a great result and well deserved.  And thanks to Wolverhampton Casuals for the fight they put up, the game could have gone either way.