With Team Jets flying the flag for Jersey in the UK and Island teams of all levels outperforming, the JEP sports editor Ron Felton asks:
Has Jersey netball ever been stronger than at present?
It would, in truth, be exceedingly difficult for anyone to answer in any way other than the affirmative as the sport appears to be thriving at all levels.
The stars of the Island game, Team Jets, seek a promotion from the rarefied atmosphere of Premier 3; their U16s also operate at a high level, regional, outside of the Island; and the club scene, despite the dominance of Convent NC over many years, has three strong divisions operating at their excellent home facility of Les Ormes.
The Reds have also dominated the Greens of Guernsey for many years now, and the Island are, for the first time, to contest a men’s inter-insular this year.
But this happy state of affairs has not happened by accident– and the excellent development work of years past and present are clearly the key. Many of the Team Jets stars and even current England player Serena Guthrie, have been helped on their way by platforms laid down for primary school performers.
With the likes of Linda Andrews, the current head coach of the Jets, and former JNA president Jackie Nelson (amongst others) building structures to coach good habits and techniques many years ago, the rewards are being reaped in spectacular fashion.
Saturday’s annual primary school age clash with Redbridge is as clear an indication as any.
The series, played for many years at Fort Regent, was initially dominated by the visitors, but steadily Jersey have built up a reputation of being exceedingly tough to beat – to such an extent it was no real shock that they pulled off the ‘double’ against the visitors, clear winners in both matches 13-6 and 13-8. Only one of the eight quarters played went to the visitors and that the last of the day.
It was a day to be proud of the Island youngsters’ efforts, and a good crowd of spectators were certainly that.
Jersey coach Danny Simon, who guided the girls alongside Natacha Morgan-Pasquali, said: ‘We haven’t won both games for a few years, but we knew in training that they had the potential to do well this year and the girls have worked very, very hard.
‘They were very excited about playing on this roll-out court – they come and see the Jets play here and were delighted to get out on the same court.
| P | W | D | L | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 | 60 |
| Ryland | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1.17 | 56 |
| Team Jets | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1.05 | 52 |
| Norfolk United | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1.09 | 51 |
| Cumberland | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1.02 | 49 |
| Linden | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1.05 | 43 |
| Dudley Leisure | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 42 |
| Falcons Black | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0.84 | 31 |
| Sussex Thunder* | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0.91 | 29 |
| Loughborough | 14 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0.68 | 16 |
*2 pts deducted
‘The Whites also did very well – we’ve got some really good potential in the squad – out of 18 players every one of them gave their best today. Although we can see there is still work to do, this is step in the right direction.
‘There is a fantastic platform for netball now and not just locally . . . the girls can access it on Sky Sports, big matches on the television. There is a lot of background stuff going on too, as well as what we’ve seen here today – and that all helps to build a player. They see someone like Serena Guthrie and they think “well, actually, that could be me”.
‘They’ve seen Team Jets and all of them have been Jersey U11 players, so they think “one day I could be stepping in that girl’s trainers” – it’s a long way off and it’s a lot of work, but it is something that is not unobtainable.
‘We’ve been working with the squad since October; we had over 70 girls last summer that came for trials and we cut those back to 30 in September and then we had to select 18. It’s a very talented year group – there were some girls who were very unlucky not to get in. In another year they may have made it.
‘If you look at the trophy the winners from the early years are Redbridge, Redbridge, Redbridge! They have so much more exposure to netball and a lot more playing opportunities – but this year we were a match for them… more than a match, in fact.’
(played at Les Ormes, with both matches consisting of 8-minute quarters)
Jersey Whites 13
Redbridge Blues 6
1st quarter: 3-2; 2nd: 7-4 (4-2); 3rd: 10-4 (3-0); 4th: 13-6 (3-2)
Jersey player of the match (nominated by Redbridge): Isabella Valeur Adu
Jersey Reds 13
Redbridge Whites 8
1st: 8-1; 2nd: 10-3 (2-2); 3rd: 12-5 (2-2); 4th: 13-8 (2-3)
Jersey player of the match (nominated by Redbridge): Lucy Hunt
Jersey Whites ( v Redbridge White): Isabella Valeur Adu ( captain), Darcy Higo ( vice-captain), Talia Morris, Lily Scott, Emily Le Marquand, Ella Cottiny, Dominique Brunwin, Mikayla Rive, Katie Le Gros, Naomi Balderson.
Jersey Reds ( v Redbridge Blue): Lauren Bisson ( captain), Katie Le Rougetel ( vice-captain), Rhea Fletcher, Katie Doyle, Madelaine Somay, Lucy Hunt, Hope Herridge, Izzy Heelis.
Coaches: Danny Simon, Natacha Morgan-Pasquali.
There were smiles all-round for Team Jets at the Hotel De France in January as captain Lauren Devine was crowned 2014 Channel Island Sports Personality of the Year.
A whopping 42 per cent of those that voted for the main award chose Devine as their sports star for 2014 following her efforts in leading the Jets on their rise into (and subsequent success within) England Netball’s national leagues, and with the Premier League 3 outfit also being named the Providence Team of the Year it could barely have got much better.
Devine, who was overjoyed to be able to celebrate a remarkable 12 months with her on-court colleagues, said: ‘It’s astounding the support I’ve received through this whole process, I cannot believe it.
‘For me, to know that we’ve had an effect on people that we don’t know is something that’s really special.
‘I cannot stand here and say it’s because I’m a good leader, because it’s not.
‘The girls all work hard and they make my job easy.
Head coach Andrews was indeed beaten to the Ravenscroft Coach of the Year – the award she won in 2012 – but her Jets will still have two trophies to show off at this Sunday’s league encounter at Les Ormes.
And, unsurprisingly, she was overjoyed at that particular fact.
‘I’m just proud,’ Andrews said. ‘I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this evening, it’s incredible.
‘They put in hours and hours of work and to be recognised as team of the year is amazing.
‘And Lauren is an amazing captain, but not only that she’s an amazing person.
‘Whatever she gives on the court she gives off the court too.
‘She strives for excellence in everything she does and I’m over the moon, it’s a wonderful award for her.’
Leicester Tigers captain Ed Slater, who was special guest for the evening, presented the top prize to Devine.
