THE second annual Jersey Open Netball Tournament gets under way tomorrow with no fewer than nine visiting teams from the UK competing - four of them returning after playing in last year’s inaugural tournament.
Jersey sides won the competition last time, Convent taking the honours in the main competition and St Lawrence in the plate, so no doubt the English girls will be aiming to change those results this weekend.The returning English teams are Business Moves, SAS, Crystal Palace and Farnham and the five new sides are Berkshire Babes, East Dorset, Jockeys, Waterside Water Babies and White Knights.
They will be joined by Jersey’s own Convent, St Brelade, St Ouen and St Lawrence, who are fielding two teams.
Once again, there are no takers from Guernsey.This is the first time that all three netball courts at Fort Regent will be in use, and the action takes place from 10 am to 4 pm on both days.It will be a challenging schedule for the teams, with six games of 20 minutes’ duration each to play tomorrow, followed by Sunday’s games when teams will be divided into two groups for the right to play for the main trophy and the plate trophy, allowing the teams to remain focused and ready to compete for a place in the finals.Mary Stanley, a top-class umpire from the UK, is also coming to the Island for the event.’We are very fortunate to have secured her services,’ said netball development officer Linda Andrews.
‘It will be an excellent opportunity for Jersey umpires to see someone of her calibre in action, and I’m certain we can all learn from her.
Mary is going to be umpiring some of the games, which is a real boost for the tournament.’Andrews added that the Jersey Open provides an opportunity for the Jersey teams to play against new and unknown opponents, which is of great benefit to them.’Most of the Jersey teams will be fielding Island players from the Under-18 and Under-16 squads, and the event will give them the taste of tournament conditions before they head off to play in the Alex Barlass inter-county tournament in a few weeks,’ she said.If last year is anything to go by, the Jersey Open will produce a great display of contrasting netballing styles.’SAS were strong contenders last year and they have ties to England men’s netball through their coach,’ said Andrews, ‘and they’ll be well prepared and ready for action again.
Of the Jersey sides, the Convent team are a mixture of youth and experience with senior and junior Island players, and they can’t be counted out to win again.’St Brelade are in good form, St Lawrence are fielding two teams and are always fully committed to doing well and St Ouen are the dark horses of the tournament.
They really enjoyed it last year and have entered again, their experienced players often catch out the best on their day.’The event, which is sponsored by ESC and Modern Hotels with the full backing of the Jersey Netball Association, starts tomorrow at 10 am and spectators are welcome.
Article posted on 27th February, 2004 - 12.00am
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