Brentwood School - Brentwoodian 2020

44 We also had the chance to compete in the U14 Nationals Cup. Our first tournament and second tournament were very successful and we won both of them. In the second tournament we played New Hall and the game was neck and neck throughout. We had extra time and then the game went to golden goal and thanks to Valencia Danby's golden goal we became Mid-Essex champions. We then progressed to the regional finals and we came second in our pool to Berkhamsted. We then had to play Broxbourne School in a nail biting semi final. We all gave 100% throughout the entire match, but despite all our best efforts we lost that match by one goal in the last five seconds, just missing out on the opportunity to get to the National finals. It was a devastating loss and we all let out a few tears but, with the support from all the P.E department and the School, we were able to rise up again and continue improving and excelling in the rest of our league and Essex cup games. I would like to thank my wonderful Vice- Captain, Olivia Carr, my team for all their hard work across the year and our proud and passionate coaches for everything that they have helped us achieve this year. We wouldn’t have been able to succeed without Mrs Juniper’s and Mrs Simpson-Crick’s support and perseverance. We hope to carry on next year and to thrive and aspire to become even stronger and resilient as a team. As Mrs Juniper always says, “when the going gets tough the tough gets going”. By Libby McLauchlan and Olivia Carr U14B This year has been a great and enjoyable season for the U14 Netball B team, despite it being cut short in March. We have posted some good wins, despite various injuries to key players and still managed to keep playing positively and never give up. Even against some tough A teams we still managed to come close to winning. Our best game of the season was winning 25-4 against Royal Hospital School. Over the course of the season we played 10 games, scoring a total of 103 goals. We also had another great win against New Hall, winning 20-6. The highlight of our season was going to La Manga in the October half-term. We won the B team tournament and had lots of fun, and it was especially great to be coached by Sasha Corbin from the England team. We improved our teamwork and bonded massively as a team and I know we took the new skills that we learned into our game. Our team consists of Grace Kingaby, Maddy Austin, Ellie Foley and Isabella Born in the circle as shooters; Lauren Morris, Annabel Simmons and Hannah Burke strong in defence; Ellie Merritt, Amelia Horton, Elizabeth Lewis and Mobolu Olowoyeye in the mid-court and me as centre. I think we work fantastically together and our teamwork shines throughout our games. I would like to thank everyone in the team for their commitment and determination and on behalf of the team, I would like to thank all our coaches and especially our team coach, Miss St Clair Jones, for her support and coaching this year. She has helped us to become stronger and better netball players and has always been cheering us on the sideline. Over the year our team has bonded and become stronger and hopefully next year we will have even better results. By Emma Dowlen U13A As I sit here at home finishing my zoom lessons I so wish that I could be back at school rushing to netball practice! I was so pleased to be nominated as Captain this year as there were so many good players to choose from. Jess Philpot and Sophie ‘Feisty’ Clark have been unstoppable centre court; Sophia Mitchell has been a great deputy with super shooting; Sophia Moule has been our strong reliable defender. Our season started off with a tour to La Manga in October which was great, lots of brilliant coaching, dancing and tik tok. Fun was had by all, even the teachers! We have had a fantastic season and most of all we have bonded so well as a team. We were remarkable in the nationals and were unlucky to lose out against Wimbledon. Our passing and pace of the game has been phenomenal and this was shown in the Saffron Waldron game and our final game against Forest where we looked on top form! Unfortunately we missed out on many games and rallies which I would have loved to have captained and I’m sure we would have excelled! Well done to Bobbi Sumners as Coaches’ Player of the Year and Zoë Smithers as ‘Players’ Player’. Ava Regan and Florence Willett were awarded ‘Most Improved’. I wish we were jumping on a coach off to a game and how I appreciate how lucky we are to be part of a lovely team. Well done everyone and as our wonderful coach Mrs Juniper would say “onwards and upwards”. Looking forward to another great season! By Emelia Hardy