Sussex Independent Schools’ Netball Association (SISNA) Tournament victories for U15 and U19 squads

Sussex Independent Schools’ Netball Association (SISNA) Tournament victories for U15 and U19 squads The always fiercely fought SISNA competition was, this year, particularly testing for all teams as the wind that whips across the Roedean courts at the best of times was absolutely freezing! Every school squad tried to ignore the temperature and play to the very of their best ability and, as a result, the competition was a joy (albeit a rather chilly one) to watch.

Hurst entered four excellent squads, the U14’s, U15’s, U16’s and U19 ’s. The U19s and U15s were 2010 SISNA winners at U16 and U14 levels respectively and this year determined to remain Champions although all teams were, on their day, potential winners.

The U14's got off to a great start, beating Lancing College, Roedean College, Seaford College and Ardingly College convincingly. A defeat by one goal against Burgess Hill School for Girls, however, meant they went through as group runners up and, in the semi final, faced a very strong Brighton squad. Despite contesting every ball until the final whistle, Hurst found Brighton just too strong as, in the final, did Burgess Hill School leaving Brighton College well deserved winners.

The U15's flew through their pool undefeated, beating Ardingly, Lancing, Eastbourne, Seaford and The Towers comfortably, thus passing through to the semi finals as group winners. Here they overcame Brighton & Hove High School, very testing opponents who fought every minute of the match with considerable skill and so passed through to the final which they won against a strong and determined team from Brighton College. This was a re-match of last year's final and therefore a victory to savour.

The U16's had the toughest draw of the day with a round robin format rather than two pools and, after injuries, they finished in 5th place. In all, the girls played 8 games in very close succession. The winner was to be the team who won the majority of their games and – because we were never sure at any one time how other teams were faring – we had to keep the pressure up in every match. In the event, the Hurst squad achieved a great victory over St Bede’s but in their subsequent matches lost two key players to ankle injuries, a fact that contributed to their failure to win matches against very strong teams from Mayfield School, Burgess Hill School and Brighton College.

The U19's had a relatively relaxed start to the tournament beating Eastbourne College, Worth School, Brighton College and St Bede’s, each by a significant margin. Ardingly College, however, tested the squad to the limit; they held us to a draw but that did not prevent us passing through to the semi finals as group winners. The Ardingly match had, however, made the team realise that they needed to raise their game against Mayfield and they really focused, storming though to a victory by a 10 goal margin. In the final, Hurst faced match favourites, Roedean, knowing that, to win, they needed to reduce their own error rate whilst making the most of any opportunities presented by Roedean. At half time, the score was 3-3, putting enormous pressure on both squads during the second half. At the close of the second half, the score was 7-7 and so the match continued with by 2 minutes' extra time and would be decided by the first team to lead by two goals. Hurst girls, hungry for the title, worked quickly but calmly, achieving in those two minutes two turn-overs and the two goals they needed to win. They thoroughly deserved their victory having played, in the opinion of many, the best netball of the tournament; a great memory, particularly for those who leave at the end of this year.