Despite that earlier knock-back, which England and Hampshire umpire, Teresa Cook, described as ‘a question of youth against experience,’ in the end Convent were good value for their victory.
With an average age of ‘somewhere in their teens’ and with only one player not currently at secondary school, the sharp and rapid style of play that coach and former Island netball development officer Linda Andrews has drilled into them was always evident.
And, despite conceding goals early on in their semi-finals, again against St Clement, they were the dominant team in the second half, eventually running out winners 11-5.
Meanwhile on the other court, in their semi-finals, SAS beat Dominoes from Manchester 6-5 in a much closer game in their 12-minute long contest.
So, after two days of play, and from 18 teams in contention, the final was between Convent and SAS and despite the youth of the Convent side, they were always quicker to the ball and, the longer the game went on, the more they dominated.
Despite the visiting team’s goal-defence, who was excellent throughout, SAS had no answer to quick play across the court from Lauren Devine, as goal defence, and Kirsten McArthur, as goalkeeper.
They effectively stubbed out most of the attacks on goal that SAS mounted, but then at centre Megan Conroy made more than one good interception while Jacy Brown was a livewire at wing-defence.
Ultimately, however, as match organiser Linda Andrews explained afterwards, the game of netball was the winner.
She said: ‘This was the best ever tournament, to date.
The games were so close, while the results never went the way you’d expect them to go.
From the quality of the games to the standard of umpiring this was the best Open we’ve had so far.
For Convent to win at the end of it all was also the icing on the cake’.
In the plate competition, St Ouen made it through to the semi-finals before losing 12-11 to Rugby Ladies who, in turn, lost to Prolek Projects,from Kent, in their final, 11-10.
Both days of competition were well supported by the Jersey public and the three national grade umpires who were invited to supervise the matches were impressed not only by the facilities, but also by the standard of play.
‘This has been my first time over here, to Jersey – but not to Guernsey – but I’d say that at club level both St Clement and Convent would be the equivalent of any side I’ve umpired in the UK,’ said Teresa Cook.
‘Both sides really do play netball to a very high standard.’ Convent A-team: Lauren Devine, Kirsten McArthur, Megan Conroy, Jacy Brown, Lara Crenan, Laura Beeston, Lynsey Pitman, Nicole Goddard, Jackie Norman, Josie Le Masurier, Sophie Hickey.
Teams from: Abbey 1 and 2; Old Actonians, Priory, Tiger Lillies (ladies); Daggers; London Lionhearts; Serco; Dominoes; SAS; Prolek Project; Rugby Ladies; St Clement; Convent; St Lawrence; Accies; Saints; St Ouen.
Best umpire (by a unanimous decision) was England’s Debbie Morgan.
