Worthing College Netballers win U19 National Schools for a Second Successive Year!

On Saturday 14th March the Worthing College netball squad travelled to Stanborough School, Welwyn Garden City to defend their England Netball U19 National Schools title against the top Schools and Colleges in the Country.

The girls started very well beating RGS Newcastle 19-5 with excellent shooting by Betsy and Shelby, great defence by Lauren, Charlotte and Eli, and super feeds by Megan and Livi.

Next up were Sedbergh who Worthing beat 12-7 followed by a close 10-8 win against Latymer and Upper School. After a break, the Worthing side did not play well losing 10-12 to Wrekin College and then a draw against Hartpury College 12-12.

Coach Tina Price changed the team around before a very important game against Woodhouse Grove. The team started to play very well winning the match 14-7 and earning a semi-final place.

The semi-final was against a strong Bromsgrove team but the Worthing College girls were in full flow with a score of 6-4 at half time, the team pressed on to win the match 15-7 playing great netball across the court.

The final was against Hartpury College once again and after a nervy start, a brilliant interception by Shelby and another by Charlotte enabled the attack to feed the ball into Betsy who shot beautifully as she had done all day. A crucial penalty at half time scored with ease meant that Worthing were 6-5 up at half time. The next 7 minutes went goal for goal with Eli, Grace and Megan putting extra pressure on the pass in the centre court enabling the defence to turn over the ball once again. Superb feeding by Livi into Betsy enabled Worthing to get a 2-goal cushion with 3 minutes to go. With the coaches, subs and supporters anxiously encouraging the girls from the sideline the Worthing team held on to win 13-11!

What an amazing achievement to win the National title for the second year in succession. Coach Tina Price said after the match “I am so proud of the whole squad and how they all worked together to play some superb netball. To win the National Schools title once last year was hard enough, but to win it a second time is an incredible achievement and I am delighted for everyone involved.”