Netball – What a Season for the First Team!
What a season this team has had! Although a couple of their matches were cancelled, due to the inclement weather conditions, we still managed to play some extremely competitive matches. The first league match was against Ipswich High School and we knew from the tournament back in October, that this was going to be a tough game as we had beaten them in the past and vice versa. To say this game was a nail biting one is an understatement… Although we went ahead in the first quarter, the High School soon caught up until the score was level pegging. Every centre mattered as well as every goal. In the final quarter, the score was 20 all with only 2 minutes to go. Luckily, we managed to convert our centre which took us one goal ahead and then we turned their next centre over and scored…yes! A great win which was deserved. Next was another tough team: Ipswich School. Yet again, this game was nail biting until the end, particularly as we were behind going into the fourth quarter. The girls cannot be faulted for their sheer determination to ensure they came away with another win to secure a good position in the South Suffolk League. Farlingaye were next – again another team we wanted to gain success against…and we did, by quite a big margin. The last league games were against St Jo’s A and B teams.
We faced the B team first and secured a 57 – 2 win…now currently competing for 1st in the league with rivals St Jo’s. They had won all of their fixtures, so this was the match of all matches! Definitely the best game of the season, the team focused from the starting whistle and gave 100% from the off. At the end of the first quarter we were 8 – 5 up, but unfortunately we were unable to hold this lead and we were trailing behind by 1 at the end of each quarter. Going in to the final quarter, the team knew they had to continue to focus and give everything they had if they were in with a chance of winning. With one minute to go, the score was 25 all…we intercepted St Jo’s centre, but unfortunately could not convert it. St Jo’s then sneakily scored to go one up and with our centre; it was all to play for. The ball reached our attacking circle, where a shot was put up but the opposition gained possession just before the final whistle. A really emotional but positive end to the season, particularly playing a team who compete in the BUCS league every Wednesday afternoon. I am so proud of you all with how you conducted yourself against some feisty competition…an excellent game to end Year 13 on for some of you.
Thank you to all the parents and students who came to support the girls – it was amazing having such a big crowd and people to encourage the team as I was umpiring!!
