On Friday, 28th February, the Queen’s U14 Netball team made history by traveling to Loughborough to compete in the highly anticipated Sisters n Sport National Cup Finals, where they faced off against the top four teams in the country. This is an incredible achievement, as the team, who won the National Plate in 2023 as Year 7s, advanced even further this year to compete for the Cup. Their journey to the finals is the furthest any Queen’s team has reached in this competition.
The day began with a tough opening match against Brighton College, one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Despite a determined performance from the Queen’s girls, who fought hard and contested every ball, they struggled to break through Brighton’s strong zonal defence. However, the team didn’t give up. A storming final quarter saw Queen’s give their all, but Brighton eventually edged out a narrow win. Brighton College went on to win the entire competition, highlighting just how close the game was.
With a gap between matches, the team had the opportunity to explore the Loughborough University Sports Campus, where they gained insight into the world-class facilities, training programs, and high-performance athletes who train there. This was a fantastic learning experience for the team, offering a glimpse into the level of dedication and commitment required to succeed at the highest levels.
The final match of the day saw Queen’s face local rivals, Scarisbrick. It was another hard-fought battle, with some excellent passages of play and impressive turnovers from the Queen’s girls. However, tired legs began to show, and Scarisbrick managed to sneak ahead, taking the win. Despite the result, the team’s spirit and skill were evident throughout the match.
Reaching the finals of the Sisters n Sport National Cup and being recognized as one of the top four U14 teams in the country is a monumental achievement for the Queen’s team. Their journey to this stage has been an outstanding accomplishment, and we couldn’t be prouder of their performance.
With their eyes now set on the England Netball National Netball Finals, which will take place on March 22nd, the team remains focused and determined to continue their success. The future looks bright for this talented team!
