U15 Netball Sisters n Sport 2021/22
Headington netballers are on their way to the national finals after an exciting run in the Sisters n Sport competition.
The U15A team sealed their place in the National Plate final, due to be held in Bromsgrove in March, after a tight victory over Gateways School in Leeds.
Losing their first game back in September to Oxford High 35-23 meant the team would compete in the Plate competition. Round 2 was a journey to St Bartholomew School where the girls won convincingly after a slow start. The final score was 24-12.
Round 3 was at home to Willink and saw many positional changes due to injury. The team kept their cool, found their rhythm and won 37-17.
Round 4 was a long bus journey to Fairford in Gloucestershire to play Farmor’s School. The game was incredibly tense, with the girls behind throughout until the last few seconds.
Mrs Vicki Cathcart, Netball coach at Headington said: “It was a cold and frosty day and on slippy courts, there were errors from both teams and the ball was played end to end. In the last minute, the team dug deep, managed to take it to a draw at 11 all and then score 2 more in the last few seconds to win emphatically 11-13.”
The quarter finals were drawn at home and proved to be another fantastic afternoon, with a balcony full of supporters adding to the nerves and excitement. The opposition, Stockport School had travelled four hours to play. The match was close, with Headington leading the first quarter 8-5. Stockport closed the gap in the score line multiple times and going into the final quarter the score was 19-17. The Headington team once again held their nerve and pulled away in style to win the match 28-21.
The semi-final was another long bus journey – this time to Leeds. It was clear from the start it would be very close and by the end of the first quarter, the Headington girls were down 10-5. The intensity grew and the team played well but couldn’t seem to convert any of their centre passes. At half time the score was 20-14. In the second half, as Headington fought for every loose ball and put pressure on every pass, the U15s were able to edge back into the game. The final quarter was a nail biter, largely going with centre passes with one team edging ahead only for the other to level it. In the final minute, Headington kept their cool and managed to go ahead by one goal. Gateways equalised only for Headington to score again more than once up until the final whistle. A fantastic victory away from home.
The National Plate final is to be held in Bromsgrove in March.
Round 1 loss Oxford High School 35-23; Round 2 Plate Win St Bartholemew School 24-12; Round 3 Plate Win Willink 37-17; Round 4 Plate Win Fairford 13-11 Player of the Match Elliet; Quarter Final Win Stockport 28-21 Player of the Match Evey; Semi Final Win Gateways School 32-31
