Chronicle 687

59 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Our January pre-season training was a great success, as we were joined by guest coach and top defender Rheanna Thomas-Grant, a Super League player from London Pulse Netball. Our teams enjoyed the netball skills and tactical sessions and the inspiring Q&A on Rheanna’s journey to elite performance. The pre-season and netball tour proved invaluable to the 1st VII who only lost one fixture in the Spring Term. Stand-out matches included a nail-biting draw (25-25) against Bradfield College and the final game of the term against Cheltenham College, with crowds watching and cheering the girls who worked hard for their 34-29 win. In the Sisters in Sport tournament the 1st VII closed out a 50-18 win to reach the North semi-finals, sadly losing to Sir Thomas Rich’s School. The term finished with the team striving to keep the cup they won the previous year at the Lord Wandsworth Tournament. The girls were on fire across the court, going into the final game undefeated. However, despite every effort to defend out a very tall goal shooter, the team lost that game and finished in second place. Kezia Angus was awarded Player of the Tournament.

Kezia Angus and Saffron Day

The 1st VII included many new faces this year, including promising U16 talents Lucy Walsh (GS) and Lydia Arnander-Richings (GA), along with returning senior Isla Martin (WA) and new addition Saffron Day (WD). They joined an already-strong core featuring Captain Kezia Angus (GD), Vice-Captain Amber Butler-Adams (GK), and key players Martha Withers Green (C), Freya Heath (C), and Tallulah Parshall (GA). It has been great to have another seven teams playing across our fixture card and competing well, enjoying wins and narrow losses along the way. The U16A team had four wins over the term and finished with a dominant win over Cheltenham College, 37-20. The U16B team had a fantastic run, winning six out of their eight matches. Their strong win 22-15 against Rugby School was a standout. The U15s had a mixed season with the A team winning eight matches over the term and enjoying success against Bloxham and Malvern College in the triangular fixture. The U14s enjoyed their first term of netball, exploring and developing their netball connections. With 18 teams playing 150 matches

The season concluded with our much loved mixed netball tournament, House Netball competitions for both seniors and juniors, and the ever-entertaining Staff vs 1st VII match. These events highlighted the inclusive and vibrant community that netball fosters at Teddies. We ended the term with our annual celebration, where we honoured team and individual achievements and expressed our heartfelt thanks to the staff whose dedication makes

our netball programme such a success.

across the season, securing 65 wins and five draws, the scale and energy of netball at Teddies is something to celebrate. The commitment, camaraderie and sportsmanship across age groups were evident all season. Players not only competed with spirit but also supported one another with passion and pride.

Freya Heath