Match Report | NIC Leeds Rhinos 63 Nottingham Forest 68

By Tyler-Sue Chapman

NIC Leeds Rhinos returned home and suffered defeat to Nottingham Forest 63-68 despite an impressive fourth quarter comeback. 

Paige Reed and Sanmarie Visser retuned to the match day 10 after a break due to injury. After four minutes of play there was just five points on the board between both sides. It was the Rhinos who took the first advantage after strong defensive efforts and quick ball speed they held a 7-2 early lead which force the visitors to use their tactical timeout. After an impressive Amex super shot period from Nottingham forest the game was level as the quarter time whistle sounded. Captain Reed sat at 100% shooting stats at the end of quarter one. 

For the first time of the fixture the visitors took the lead. Some unforced errors from the Rhinos allowed them into the advantage. Phoebe Maslen entered the game at wing defence for her Rhinos debut and the game revelled at 25 a piece with less than a minute on the clock until the Amex super shot period.  A missed shot on the buzzer saw the visitors hold the lead at the half time break 29-30.

Head coach Palmer made a group of changes to commence the second half with Kilgallen returning to wing defence, Maslen moving to C, Sasha Howard taking to court at goal defence and Baylis moving to wing attack. Forest quickly built a six goal advantage forcing the Rhinos to use their tactical timeout. It was Forest who were quicker out the blocks after the pause as they reached a ten goal advantage entering the Amex super shot period. Visser returned to the court at goal defence and captain Reed moved to goal attack with Harriet Jones moving down the court into the goal shooter position. A flurry of Amex super shots for the home side gave the fans lots to cheer for but Forest continued to add points to the tally and entered the final break 15 goals ahead 43-57.

Baylis returned to the centre position and Howard also regained the goal defence bib. Kilgallen was given a warning due to repeated infringements and Palmer slotted in Maslen in the wing defence position. 11 was the deficit with ten minutes on the clock. Quick hands and vision from Baylis saw the Rhinos reach the post frequently reducing the deficit as the Amex super shot period approached. Visser returned to the goal defence period for the final five minutes of the fixture with the deficit sitting at 10. An impressive grind from the Rhinos saw four Amex super shots added to the board after defensive wins for Visser. The Rhinos slotted a one point shot through just before the buzzer to secure a bonus point despite a five point deficit as time denied them of a win 63-68.

An impressive performance from the Rhinos saw Sanmarie Visser earn 6 gains 5 deflections 2 intercepts on her return to court. The Rhinos return to the Canon Medical Arena next Saturday 2nd May when they face London mavericks.

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