NETBALL: THE fate of the English Counties Division championship is in the hands of Halton's Jess Ayuya and her colleagues in the Cheshire County U16s Netball squad.
The county's comfortable victory in their top-of-the-table home clash against Northamptonshire means they will take the title if they win their next two games.
The first of these is on Saturday, February 25 against Wiltshire at Woodford Lodge High School in Winsford, where leaders Cheshire pulled away in the last two quarters to beat Northants 59-40.
Jess of Grange Comprehensive School, Runcorn, had a key part to play in Cheshire's strategy.
The start of the second quarter saw her switch to goal defence as the coaches tried to combat the height of the Northants attack.
Cheshire had led 15-12 at the first break but the visitors refused to be dominated and the hosts had only a two-point half-time lead.
After the third quarter, the hosts had stretched their advantage to 11 points and the coaches kept faith with the same seven players for the last 15 minutes.
Jess again helped to cut the supply line to the visitors' dangerous goal attack. nFrodsham girl Rosie Steward (Helsby High School) was one of three standout players as Cheshire U16s B beat Northants 38-18.
The U14s A team made it a hat-trick with a 46-21 victory over the same county opposition.
