Ruislip Eagles women win the league

RUISLIP Eagles Ladies successfully defended their National League title by securing a comfortable 32-20 win against Olympia on Sunday.

With London GD fielding a weakened team and unexpectedly losing their final game against Thames in the match before, Ruislip had the luxury of knowing that they were champions again before the match even started but were determined to finish with another victory.

The match was tightly contested throughout the first half with Olympia’s Dorota Basta playing an influential part but gradually Eagles exerted their influence over the game and went in at half time with a two goal lead.

From then on the result was never in doubt as Ruislip stepped up with the fast breaks and Dani Sposi scored 10 goals to ensure the comfortable win but it was not a match that pleased coach Mel Chowns from an aesthetic point of view.

“I am delighted we have won the league again but this was not a pretty match for the spectators and not our best performance but I guess that doesn’t matter on a day like today. We have had a very tough season with some horrendous injuries to key players so I am very proud of the team to keep going and secure another title.”

Ruislip Eagles and London GD will contest the Cup Final on June 9th but Ruislip could well be without Coach Chowns and Dani Sposi who are on GB duty in Spain.

Veteran Eagles swoop past Thames

INJURY-hit Ruislip Eagles women had to call up the old guard for their clash with Thames on Sunday – but they still managed to secure a 23-18 victory in the English National League clash at Leyton SCORE Centre in London.

Eagles were already without three of their key players to long term injuries, and faced Thames with three further key players missing including their top scorer, Danni Sposi, and influential defender Milli Chebanova. But they knew that if they were to have any chance of retaining the league, they could not lose this vital match.

So coach Mel Chowns stepped out of retirement, Rena Fairbrother and Andrea Szanto stepped up to play a full 60 minutes and Ella Jadeszko returned to cover Chebanova role in defence and the veterans combined well with their younger teammates to pull off an excellent victory.

Ruislip were also determined to give right winger Judit Volgyi a winning send off as she returns home to Hungary.

Ruislip started the better, but were soon pegged back by Thames who were also without key players but had Olimpia Lopes da Veiga in good scoring form.

Half time was a close one-goal lead for Ruislip but they stepped up a gear in the second half and Szanto began to really cause trouble through the centre and Volgyi scored from fast breaks and this ensured a key victory for Ruislip by 23-18. Da Veiga finished with 7 goals for Thames, a total matched by Szanto.

The win leaves the league delicately poised with Great Dane just two points ahead but having played a game more than Ruislip. Significantly, Ruislip’s goal difference is +12 on Great Dane and this could be the deciding factor at the end of the season.

Eagles Overcome Olympia

RUISLIP Eagles Women continued their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable 29 -11 victory over Olympia.

It was a victory that came at a high price however, as the champions suffered yet another serious injury - this time one of their key defenders and left back Kerstin Pappenfuss with a ruptured Achilles.

This is their second major injury already this season, following the knee injury to captain Zsuzsi Telek. Olympia also suffered several injuries and an illness which also made it difficult for them to compete with Ruislip in the second half.

Olympia kept pace with Ruislip for large parts of the first half in a low scoring start but gradually Ruislip started to pull away and build a lead that they would never lose with Dani Sposi rattling in the goals, eventually scoring 14.

At one point, Olympia were down to just 6 court players including the keeper, as they battled to sort out their injuries and in this time Ruislip were able to fast break and take advantage of the additional player.

Ruislip will hope for no further injuries to their already weakened squad as they face Great Dane on Sunday morning.

Ruislip Eagles Retake League Title

RUISLIP Eagles regained the National Women’s League title on Saturday when they beat title rivals Olympia 32-21 at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre to give themselves an unassailable lead with one game to play.

Olympia were still in with a chance of winning the title themselves if they could beat the Eagles, but after a heavy defeat at their hands earlier in the season, they did well to make a much better fight of it, particularly in the first half.

Ruislip were always in control thanks to another fine performance from their top scoring duo of Zsuzi Telek and Dani Sposi and a season-best showing from Judit Volgyi on the right wing.

Despite being without key central defender Kirstin Pappenfuss, Ruislip’s defence was well marshalled by Milli Chebanova, who put in a series of great blocks and managed the threat of Olympia’s line player.

Eagles’ Head Coach Mel Chowns said: “ It was not a pleasant feeling losing the league last year to worthy winners Great Dane but I am delighted with how the team have responded this year, the team spirit they have shown and the application during training they have given.

“When you consider that we have also been without several key players this season with long term injuries, I am really pleased for the team.”

But the Eagles had little time for celebration as the following day they headed to Manchester to play Deva in the English Cup.

Deva made a great start, catching Eagles cold with a series of fast breaks and racing into a six-goal lead before Ruislip had even got on the score board.

Gradually Ruislip got into the game but Deva were well in contention thanks to great goal-scoring from Popa Florentina and Dorota Basta who added experience to the young team.

With Dani Sposi marked out of the game, Ruislip had to rely on the strength of other players to get the goals and these duly came from Erika Rescka and Bee Bjarnadóttir. Ruislip recovered from their dreadful start to eventually go in at half time with a 20-17 lead.

But Deva kept up the pressure in the second half, with coach Donna Hankinson adopting a very offensive defence, but the experience of Ruislip was too much and they gradually found space through Telek and Dreksler and ran out comfortable 40-30 winners.

Coach Mel Chowns was full of praise for Deva’s young squad: “It was not ideal having two key matches in one weekend but I am so impressed with the work Donna is doing with the young British players in Deva.

“They showed fantastic speed and power for a young team and gave us a lot of problems. This is what we want to see happening in all clubs - giving young British women the chance and I include Ruislip in that.

“We must combine the skills of the European players living here with the development of young home grown talent. Hats off to Deva for driving this.”

Eagles Soar to Emphatic Win

RUISLIP Eagles continued their domination of the English Women’s League with an emphatic 33-17 victory over Thames at Leyton SCORE Centre in London on Saturday.

The unbeaten leaders of the table, Ruislip were 17-9 ahead by half time and extended their lead to 33-17 by the final whistle with Telek scoring 11 times, while Papenfuss and Dreksler scored six apiece.

And on the same day, Olympia edged past Cambridge 23-19 to gain revenge for the one-point defeat they suffered to their rivals back in October.

Ahead by just three at half time, Olympia defended well after the break to hold on to their lead. With just the bare seven players available, Cambridge did well to battle through the full hour, and Agi Foglein ended as top-scorer with eight goals, while Ekler scored six and Friggieri five for Olympia.

Finally, former league champions Great Dane could only secure a 23-23 draw with this season’s newcomers Deva, the Chester side proving they are learning fast with a well-deserved point which leaves them second in the table.

The next round of women’s matches are on April 2, when old rivals Ruislip Eagles take on Great Dane. Despite being at opposite ends of the table, the Eagles will be taking nothing for granted.

And on the same day, Thames take on Olympia.

Ruislip Open Season with a Win

Ruislip Eagles got their season off to a great start with a convincing 39-12 win over Thames on Sunday.

The Eagles are determined to make a significant push for the league and cup this year having lost both titles to rivals Great Dane last season, and have been boosted this season with the return from long-term injury of Lenka Kocisova as well as strengthening in the goalkeeper position.

Thames were fielding a new-look team and got off to a good start, with speed in their attack. But Ruislip’s new goalkeeper Elizabeth Solhaug was in fantastic form, with an 80 per cent save rate in the first half.

Ruislip soon settled and were dominating from fast breaks where Kocisova and Telek were unstoppable. The Eagles built a commanding half time lead of 21-5, largely due to the efficient fast breaking and Solhaug’s commanding performance and although Thames were more effective in the second half, the game was over as a contest and Ruislip ran out 39-12 winners.

Top scorers for Ruislip Eagles were Telek with 12, while Kocisova added 11 and Dani Sposi 6.

This Sunday, Great Dane open their defence of the National League title with a match against Chester side Deva at Leyton SCORE Centre in London.