Sisters n Sport National Netball Champions

The U16 Netball team had a fantastic season this year. After narrowly missing out on qualifying for the regional round of the National Schools Netball Competition at the start of the year, they set their sights on the Sisters n Sport National Netball Competition.

They showed an excellent level of commitment as they were one of the schools with the most traveling required over the six rounds. After defeating Vandyke Upper School 44-13 in the semi-final, Queen Anne’s qualified for the National Finals, where the top two teams in the south division play the top two teams in the north.

It was a long but exciting journey up to Loughborough on the afternoon of Wednesday 26 March. After checking into the hotel, it was time for some team bonding, however, it was an early night for the squad to ensure they were well-rested for an 8:30 am warm-up the next morning.

Being placed in the first round allowed the team time to take in their surroundings and optimise the longest warm-up period of the day. As soon as they were allowed on the court, they were fully focused on the task ahead.

In the first round, they were drawn against Upton Hall from the north division. It took a while to settle into the game, but they won the first quarter by one goal and maintained this lead through the end of the second quarter. In the third quarter, the attack found their rhythm and worked seamlessly to drive the ball to the goal, finishing the quarter at 22-19. With momentum on their side, the team kept pushing forward, converting an increasing number of turnovers into goals. The final score was 31-24, securing their place in the championship match.

The final was against Ivybridge Community College, a well-known challenging side. The team was focused and knew what needed to be done, but they couldn’t completely control their nerves and trailed 6-8 in the first quarter. However, Queen Anne’s kept up their intensity and played as a cohesive unit, bringing the score to 14-14 at halftime. The match was of such high quality and played at such a high intensity that a few errors crept in during the third quarter. The teams went goal for goal, with several turnovers that Queen Anne’s struggled to take to goal. A late goal by the opposition just before the whistle put Queen Anne’s down by one. However, with the first centre pass of the final quarter, the team showed their resilience. They minimised errors and gave every second on the court everything they had, and it paid off. They clinched the victory 30-27, becoming the U16 National Champions!

Congratulations to all the players who competed in the finals and to those who contributed to the team’s journey. It was an incredible display of skill, determination, and teamwork, culminating in a well-deserved victory. A special mention goes to captain Darcie (U5), who was named Player of the Match in the final.

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