Yesterday afternoon, our u13 Girls were crowned IAPS u13 National Netball Champions at Bryanston School, Dorset. Some 90+ schools had vied in regional qualifiers to be one of the 20 top schools at the National Finals. Having won the Regional qualifiers and Sussex Championships in previous weeks the girls were rightly confident going into this.
Wins against Dean Close (6-5), Thomas’ Battersea (5-4), Kenyan IAPS Schools (11-3) and a 9-9 draw against Heath Mount saw them top the group and progress to the Cup Quarter finals.
In the quarter finals they faced Cranleigh and after a tight 1st half pulled 3 clear in the second to win 7-4. Then came a tough Semi-Final against Bryanston. Again, weathering a tough battle in the first half they got ahead by two and defended doggedly and kept possession from their centre-passes to win 7-5.
The final saw them pitched against familiar opponents Hurst, whom they had beaten in the final of the regional section. Tired and with Hurst keen to avenge their recent defeat, the girls had to guard against complacency, concentrate and summon the energy to go one last time. What ensued was a dominant performance from the girls and they never looked like losing. The whole squad did their bit, giving everything all day and they deserved to win and did so in style winning 7-1!
Outstanding and inspirational.