Match Report: EUNC 4'S CHAOS AT NAPIER

A rearranged fixture EUNC 4 travelled out to the [EN]gage Sports Centre, Sighthill on Monday evening to face Napier 1. After beating Napier 1 in last 32 stage of the Scottish Conference Cup EUNC 4 were optimistic, although aware Napier were missing key players in the last meet. The team got warmed up and played a strong first quarter against a determined Napier who had the advantage of home support on the sidelines. However, just before the end of the first quarter the first injury of the night struck... starting GD Alice Insull went over on her ankle, a few minutes later GS Jess Menzies called time for a sore ankle. The startled team drew the first quarter 12 all.

With two players injured the 4s put on brave faces and took to the court in the second quarter. Napier were strong and started to pull away whilst the Edinburgh side kept fighting back in a demanding and physical game. Another 3 injury times were called in the match, and various

substitutions every interval, EUNC 4 managed to keep the score quite close.

However, in the last quarter, WD Charlotte Thomas topped all other injuries with a dislocated thumb, following a collision. The rest of the game was a bit of blur for the Edinburgh side following this, with so many injuries and Charlotte's terrible luck, the 4s played steadily until the end but came away with a loss of 54-39. The night for some ended in a trip to A&E with Alice and Charlotte in tow. A five hour wait, multiple x-rays and a hilarious but painful experience of laughing gas for Charlotte, the rest of the 4s finally got home in the early hours of the morning. Alice has badly sprained her ankle and Charlotte's relocated thumb mean EUNC 4 will be down a few players in the upcoming cup matches this weekend in Dundee. EUNC 4 are already feeling the loss of their two teammates and the traumatic match left us questioning how much contact is really involved in this non-contact sport.