YOUNG netballers at a Stafford school aim to chalk up early victories in the new campaign as they bid to mirror their best season on record.
The sides from Stafford Grammar School (SGS) hope to build on last year’s successes which included four district titles and a national crown, but head of girls’ PE Lynda McConville admits it will be a difficult task.
“We had an amazing season so it’s going to be an extremely tough act to follow, but the girls are prepared to work hard,” she said.
The under-13s were never in arrears as they romped to the top of the table at the Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) national netball championships at Rugby, beating Essex outfit, Shoreham College 9-4 in the final.
And the team remained in peak form for the Stafford and District Schools’ competition at Walton High, defeating St Dominic’s (Brewood) 11-0 to capture the trophy.
SGS’s district success extended to three other age groups, with the under-14s also facing St Dominic’s in the final, where they edged a 7-5 victory.
Meanwhile at Penkridge Middle School, the under-12s matched their schoolmates’ endeavour against St Dominic’s to clinch the silverware.
The under-16s played host school, Walton High in their festival final and with the sides level at full-time, they agreed to share the spoils.
Pictured left are captains of the four successful teams, Helen Skilton (u16s), Sally Van der Linden (u14s), Rebecca Deakin (u13s) and Harriet Rhodes (u12s).
