Sedbergh Netball make history at National Finals

Report by Lucia Sdao, Head of Girls’ Sport

For only the second time in Sedbergh’s history, the 1st Netball team travelled down to the National Netball Finals in Stevenage. This tournament brings together the top 2 schools in 9 regions, so top 18 teams in the country.  

First game was against Latymer Upper, Sedbergh had a terrible start to the game and found themselves 5 goals down within two minutes, despite a much better second half Sedbergh were unable to close the gap and finished losing the first game 10-8.  Next game was Worthing College, boasting two 6ft 4 shooters, superstars Ray and Dale did their best but ball after ball was launched into the opposition’s shooters and we lost 12-7 to the eventual National Champions.

Wrekin College were next, a strong netball school from the West Midlands, Sedbergh regrouped and produced a brilliant performance winning 9-4, Burnett, Shaw and Clinch showing their metal in mid court.  Hartpury College followed after the break, some outstanding defending from Dale together with Haywood and Burnett slotting shots away just left us short and we lost 12-10, this was probably the performance of the day with Sedbergh showing flair, skill and a much more confident attitude, just letting the ball go giving fluid passages of play.  Local rivals RGS Newcastle were swept aside 12-6 in our penultimate game leaving just Woodhouse Grove to beat, unfortunately despite three draws against this opposition through the season it wasn’t meant to be and Sedbergh lost 15-8, this placed us 5th in our section but still in the top 10 schools and colleges in the country at U19 level.  

This group have been amazing through the season, but in the past three weeks have dealt with so many setbacks including season ending injuries, family bereavements and illness but I am so proud of how they have come together to perform at Nationals. Sport is about so much more than what happens on the field of play and these girls and the bonds they have made together will last a lifetime.  Thank you to each and every one of them for training hard, for performing under pressure and for creating a lasting legacy for our Sedbergh girls, they have set the standard, Sedbergh’s best season ever, well done.  Delighted to award Holly with her Brown Blazer for her outstanding performances in both National Cup runs and National Finals, she has been a game changer for the 1st Netball Team.  

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