Story by Delle Chan/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

IVP Girls Netball NTU vs SP

The NTU WD (white) fails to intercept a high pass despite getting a hand onto the ball. However it was NTU who prevailed at the end of the match, recording a convincing 61-21 victory over SP (black) in their group stage encounter. (Photo 1 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)

Republic Polytechnic Sports Complex, Friday, January 14, 2011 — Nanyang Technological University (NTU) outshone Singapore Polytechnic (SP) 61-21 in Group B of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Netball Championship to remain undefeated after two games.

NTU were quick to open the scoring for the match, capitalising on their fluid passing and solid rapport. SP, on the other hand, were largely unable to penetrate the NTU defence and were let down by a series of mispasses. As a result, NTU pulled ahead exponentially, ending the first quarter with a 22-4 advantage.

In the second quarter, NTU were once again first on the scoresheet, scoring two goals before SP responded in kind. However, in the latter part of the quarter, a lapse in NTU’s concentration enabled SP to add another two goals to their tally. Despite this, SP were unable to reduce the deficit and the quarter ended 36-8 in NTU’s favour.

It was SP’s turn to open the scoring in the third quarter; however, NTU quickly responded with two goals of their own shortly thereafter. The quarter was relatively more closely contested, with both teams adding to their goal tallies considerably to end it 50-17.

Despite a fair number of substitutions made, the tempo of the match slowed down noticeably in the last quarter, perhaps due to fatigue from the players. However, with vocal encouragement from their bench, NTU cemented their dominance of the match with a final score of 61-21.

NTU’s coach, S.T. Goh, shared, “My team did okay today. We were more focused on the flow of the game and giving everyone a run to work on their specific skills.”

When questioned about his team’s prospects, he said, “I think we are likely to emerge champions of our group and this will give us an advantage on paper. As for our targets, we expect to see ourselves in the final, probably against NUS.”

In the other Group A match of the night, Temasek Polytechnic (TP) overcame Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) 62-32.

2011 IVP Netball Fixtures & Results

IVP Girls Netball NTU vs SP

Players from both teams watch as a ball bounces out of play. (Photo 2 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)

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