AFTER nearly a month off the court, Team Jets return to Regional League 1 action with another away double-header this weekend.
Two excellent victories got their campaign up and running, but Titans Lightning tomorrow and ENC Equinox on Sunday will be looking to cause the Islanders problems.
In what is a big season of progression for the Team Jets’ programme, both on the court and off, the first team got off to the perfect start in September with convincing wins away from home over Bristol Romans B and Team Bath A.
Jets coach Emily Green admits that, although those results were excellent, it has been frustrating to have such a gap between those fixtures and this weekend.
“Our opening double-header weekend was a fantastic performance from the girls,” said Green, who has taken the coaching reins while Serena Kersten is on maternity leave.
“We have a lot of new things going on this season – new players and formations, all which take time to integrate.
“You need to build momentum, especially at the start of new seasons, so having such a long break this early has been a bit of a challenge.
“But what it has done is allowed the Team Jets 2 to have several games now in Regional League 3, which has given us valuable insights while the first team have been waiting.”
The Team Jets 2 side have entered Regional League 3 (RL3) for the first time this season, offering the younger players in Jersey a clear pathway to playing high-level competitive netball and push for a place in the first team.
With key players such as attacker Leah Griffin and defender Becca Forrest unavailable this weekend, there is an opportunity for new players to step up and fill some big shoes.
“Even though our first-team players haven’t had a game for a month, we now have a few girls who are playing across both groups, as well as all the squads mixing in training,” added Green.
“We have several unavailabilities for this weekend, so we have a few of those RL3 girls stepping in.
“The fact they have been playing consistently, as well as training alongside the first team, leaves us in a good position to bring them in.
“That was the whole point of having a second team – to broaden the strength in depth in the Island and we will have to use some of that this weekend.”
Although just two games into their campaign, the Caesareans will feel full of confidence, having secured back-to-back wins over two very strong sides in this league.
This weekend’s opponents both sit at the foot of the table, without a win between them from a combined six fixtures so far.
However, Green believes that is no reason to take them for granted.
“As we know from experience, any team can beat anyone in this league,” she added.
“Each week we look and see results that have taken us by surprise.
“Both of the teams this weekend could bring girls into their squads who would make them much stronger, and we have to be prepared to face the best version of them.
“Honestly though, I try not to think much about who we’re playing.
“I know where our strengths lie as a team and what we do when we play at our best and I believe that it’s enough to beat any team in this league.
“Especially with the positive pathway structure we now have in place, I think it’s really important for us to concentrate on ourselves and us being the best team we can be, rather than looking too much at the league table.
“The girls are so excited to get back out on court though; it’s felt like we haven’t even started the season yet in a weird way.
“We have been training extremely hard and the girls look in a good place. Sadly we will be without a couple of key figures, but we have a brilliant squad who are excited and ready to get stuck into first-team action.
“If we can land another couple of wins this weekend that will do wonders for the group and help us carry on the momentum from the first games.”
Team Jets are set to face Titans Lightning tomorrow, before going up against ENC Equinox on Sunday.
Team Jets Squad: Rosie Tonner (c), Lily Jones, Emily Le Gros, Maddie Fitzgerald-Wilkins, Toni Chaytor, Nicole Goddard, Jodie Blampied, Molly Carre, Sam Salzone, Florence Allo
