Fuller on fire for Bath Women
Cardiff Nebula v Bath Women
SW Invitational League
16th February 2025
Cardiff Sports Ground
Final Score Cardiff 2:16 Bath
January and February seem to be difficult times when it comes to commitment for lacrosse players everywhere, and this fixture between Cardiff Nebula and Bath Women was on trend, neither team being able to field a full squad. Captain Abi Chel agreed to play 7 a side to get the fixture completed.
Nebula are a development squad, the players are not from the traditional lacrosse schools, but rather from the junior programme run by coach Tony Higginson. The girls are keen but suffer from a lack of playing time.
Bath although short sided had more experience on the field, although, without a regular keeper the team relied on Tortie Fenwick-Moore stepping between the pipes.
A big factor in the game was certainly the pitch, full size (lots of running for 7 players) and on 2G, which is designed for hockey, the ball runs away from the player when dropped and doesn’t seem to slow down. A couple of goalkeeper long clears ran off the opposite end line.
At the draw, things were even, with both teams coming up with the ball in equal measure, but the Bath player’s greater experience in defence stifled the Cardiff attack, causing a lot of turnovers, at the other end Bath’s attack, led by Clair Fuller had the stronger technique, less dropped balls, quicker dodges and, in turn, more shots. No surprise that Fuller came away with 10 goals in the game.
The score was 12:0 at half time, and the captains agreed to allow some players from Cardiff University development squad to join in (they were due on the field for a training session after the game)
The addition of 9 players (5 for Cardiff and 4 for Bath), and the move to 10 a side, meant a much more competitive game, with a more structured (less exhausted) attack and defence.
Fuller however was not to be denied, scoring all four of Bath’s second half goals, a 4:2 second half win for Bath meant a final score of 16:2 on the day.
The girls on both sides of this game should be commended, 7’s on a full-sized pitch is tough, players had to adopt unfamiliar positions, Ashley Roberts (straight D) nearly scored, and transition is a long run. Cardiff did not let their heads drop and Bath kept good discipline.
Good points for Bath in the invitational league.
Quarter time scores
1st quarter Cardiff 0:7 Bath
Fuller, Andrews, Hall, Fuller, Fuller, Fuller Pearman
2nd quarter Cardiff 0:5
Andrews, Fuller, Andrews, Fuller, Andrews
3rd quarter Cardiff 2:2 Bath
Fuller, Fuller
4th quarter Cardiff 0:2 Bath
Fuller, Fuller
Final Score Cardiff 2:16 Bath
Scorers
Clair Fuller 10
Amelia Andrews 4
Kim Hall 1
Alice Pearman 1
Umpires
Nik Roberts (Bath)
Tony Higginson (Cardiff)
Timekeeper
Nicola Roberts (Bath)