JERSEY’S under-16 J United netball team were crowned South-West Champions at the weekend after winning their club league regional play-offs.
With a superb effort over two days to win the tournament in Bath, the team will now face the top sides from the UK in the national finals in May.
J United first took on Pinehurst Blues from West Devon and starting strongly beat them 33-7 before seeing off Cornwall’s Keltic Academy 34-22.
Coach Linda Andrews used all 11 of her squad, from the PwC Centre of Excellence, on the first day and was blown away, in particular, with the performance of the defence: ‘They were just totally and utterly superb,’ she explained.
‘They dominated that whole area to give the team more and more opportunities - I’ve never seen them play like that.’ On Sunday, Jersey’s fine form continued as they beat Bournemouth 31-23 and Andrews felt the defence’s display from the previous day had rubbed off on the attack as she was left totally overwhelmed with the supremacy of her team’s performance.
In the final, J United took on East Dorset and came through a testing match to win 35-28.
Etching a lead in the opening quarter, Jersey went into the second phase with a four goal advantage and managed to build on this over the course of the fast-paced match.
‘We managed to dominate the defensive third again and the movement of the attack was great.
I know we do all these things in training but they were putting it into play, keeping their cool and netting their shots as well - it was a breath taking performance.’ J United, who were supported by Kleinwort Benson, will now face eight other teams in the National finals on 27 May in Sheffield but will be without Kirsten McArthur, Jenna Murphy and Amy Dingle who are away at the Jeux des Iles.
However, with a great strength in depth Andrews is confident her team will step up to the challenge.
J United: Bethan Conroy (captain), Jacy Brown, Kathryn Miller, Josie Le Masurier, Harriet Simon, Emma Carré, Kirsten McArthur, Nicole Goddard, Jenna Murphy, Amy Dingle and Steph Le Ruez.
Debbie Pitman (coach), Aileen Binnie (umpire), Pat Brown (scorer).
Article posted on 30th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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