JERSEY’S U16 and U18 netballers travel to Bournemouth this weekend to play in the annual Alex Barlass Inter-County tournament.

The U16s are a development group with just one player, Amy Cox, having played in this event before.

The rest of the squad are from the U14 and 15 age-groups, and while the competition will present them with a challenge, coach Linda Andrews is hoping they will relish that challenge and benefit from the experience.

They are seeded No 12 and will be playing against Essex East (reigning champions), Tyne and Wear, Sussex, Warwickshire, Avon, Cumbria and Northants.

The U18 squad is at full strength and includes England U17 player Serena Guthrie, and Lynsey Pitman from the Jersey U16s, with all the girls charged up following their excellent showing in last weekend’s inter-insulars.

They will be up against Essex East (reigning champions), Staffordshire South, Isle of Wight, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire North, Dorset West and Nottinghamshire.

‘They are determined to achieve a seeded place on Sunday – and if they don’t it won’t be for lack of trying,’ Andrews said.

Squads: U16: Fabienne Pingeon, Kathryn Miller (c), Jenna Murphy, Emma Carré, Danielle Strickley, Jacy Brown, Harriet Simon, Bethan Conroy, Terri Booth, Josie Le Masurier, Amy Cox.

U18: Lynsey Pitman, Sophie Holmes (c), Kelly Liddle, Lara Crenan, Megan Conroy, Abbie Hazley (vc), Carla Plater, Holly Webster, Georgia Hickey, Stephanie Langford, Serena Guthrie, Lauren Devine.