Netball: Redcourt youngsters scoop regional netball tournament

Apr 18 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WIRRAL girls are celebrating after netting a prestigious junior school title.

Youngsters from Redcourt-St Anselm’s, in Birkenhead, won the Association of Junior Independent Schools (AJIS) North West netball tournament in Bolton.

The title capped a remarkable time for the girls, who are now undefeated in all competitions over the last two years.

Twenty four schools competed for the title, which was split into four divisions, with each division containing six teams during back-to-back 12-minute games.

And Redcourt knew they had their work cut out from the beginning with last season’s champions, Bolton Grammar, being drawn in their division and their opening opponents. But the girl’s proved their credentials beating the tournament favourites 7-3. Coach Mrs Carmel Sullivan, who is assisted by Miss Emily Stevenson and Mrs Helen Carrington, said: “The standard was incredibly high but our girl’s confidence grew throughout and so did their standard of play.”

The team won every game in their division before producing their best display of the day in the semi-final beating a strong Kirkham Grammar School 10-3.

The final against Newcastle-under-Lyme school, Orme House, proved a much tighter affair but the girls from the Wirral held out winning 5-3 to take the title.

Mrs Sullivan added: “This is an amazing achievement for the girls especially as they have been undefeated in the last two years of playing.”