Guernsey make a welcome return to the event after a number of years away while Hertfordshire team Turnford are once again involved – both sides bringing two teams for the competition.
Weston Park, two teams from Essex, and three from Jersey – two U12s and one U11 side – complete the line up for what will be one of the most hotly contested U12 tournaments in years.
‘There will be nine games, six minutes each way, for the teams so this will be a good test of fitness for them,’ explained coach Danny Simon.
‘It’s always hard for Jersey because most of the visiting sides will have been playing teams week in week out whereas these are the first competitive matches for the U12s other than in the Youth League.
‘However, I think we have a Jersey A team that can get to the final and win and a B team that can finish high up the order.
The 18 we selected for the squad have clocked up 24 hours of training in the last two terms and worked very hard, committing themselves 100 per cent.
‘Their netball skills have really come on, they’re really blossoming and we brought in some of last year’s u12s to play against them at the weekend which stretched them so hopefully they’re peaking at the right time.
‘With the U11s, if they get a few wins under their belts then I’d be delighted and I’m sure they can do that.’
For Danny Simon and fellow coach Natacha Morgan-Pasquali this will be their first U12 tournament, but it could also be their last as the Secondary Schools Association are taking over the U12 team and the event may not continue.
‘It’s because we have to adapt to change,’ explained Jersey Netball Association president Jackie Nelson.
‘Guernsey wanted to change the ages for the inter-insulars to U12, U14, U16 meaning that the Secondary Schools Association lost the U13s and U15s so they only had one team to look after.
‘We’ve got some very enthusiastic and accomplished coaches in the secondary schools who want to take on these Island teams so it makes sense for them to take on the U12s.’
‘It’s a bit sad that we won’t see the girls next year as they are a promising bunch,’ added Simon who, along with Morgan-Pasquali, will continue to coach the U11 side.
‘We’re a bit disappointed as well having taken on the role, learnt the ropes and put a lot of effort in for it to only have been for one year.
‘However, it’s all very amiable and I can understand the reasons behind it – it’s always a shame when you don’t have people who want to coach so it can only be for the good of the sport.’
There will now have to be discussions as to whether the U12 tournament continues.
‘I think there will still be a tournament,’ added Nelson.
‘But there’s got to be a decision about what age group it will be and what is most beneficial.
With the U12s and U14s having an inter-insular we want to make sure the U13s still have something to play in.
‘We’d still love to keep the U13 and U15 inter-insular going; what’s holding it back is that the Guernsey schools aren’t as fortunate to have the enthusiasm with the teachers to run these teams.
‘It does seem a shame that girls are missing out on playing for their Island in what is the game of the season – we have some very disappointed youngsters.’
The U12 tournament starts on Saturday at 10 am at Gloucester Hall, Fort Regent, with semi-finals scheduled for around 3.45 pm and the finish at 5 pm.
Gloucester Hall is again the site for netball action on Sunday from 9 am when some of Jersey’s Youth teams and the U11s who didn’t feature on Saturday will compete in games against the visiting teams.
Teams – U12: Mia Appleby, Lydia Ward, Lauren Mills, Rebecca Keen (Les Quennevais); Sophie Rabet, Tessa Letherbarrow, Charlotte Sweeney (Beaulieu); Charlotte Le Flock (Haute Vallee); Alice Fagan, Jemima Le Sueur (St Michaels); Audrey Bois (Le Rocquier); Aimee Tredant, Lois Boyle, Jodi Le Cornu, Toni Chaytor, Kira Moisin, Kitty Conway, Hannah Godfrey (JCG).
U11: Lauren Blair (St Georges); Emily Reynolds, Nicole Le Rougetel, Sophie Eccles (D’Auvergne); Georgina Ruellan, Susannah Phillips (St Saviour); Lucy Fraser (First Tower); Gemma Gardiner (St Martins); Lucy Banks (St Michaels) Isabelle Beaugeard, Kenya Smith, Susannah Humphrey, Hannah Johnson, Olivia Blampied (JCG) Rosie Hill, Heidi Alice Smith (Beaulieu).
