Evelyn Partners Jets – 40
Exeter – 46
HT Score: 23 – 24
Player of the Match: Grace Thomson
EVELYN PARTNERS JETS were grounded on their opening home game of the 2025/26 Premier League 3 season after suffering their first defeat of the campaign against Exeter in the first game at the new Oakfield Sports Centre.
“What a game,” said coach Emily Green post match. “Although we lost by six, I thought it was a really good showing of what we have and I’m really proud of the girls for the resilience and determination that they showed throughout.
“Exeter brought a fantastic standard of netball, they were a tall, very rangey team which gave us very little advantage in the height department.”
As the whistle blew, Jersey’s homecoming was slightly spoiled by the explosive start from the visitors, who ended the first quarter 6-13 up.
“The first quarter proved a bit of a humbling experience, the girls were coming on and off the bench all saying it felt like so much harder and I think it was a bit of a shock to the system.
“Last week we faced YMCA Magic who also got promoted from Regional netball to this division, so I think they game felt a lot more even.
“After the first quarter, they’d gone on a few momentum runs where they put a few goals up on us in a row and we were a bit caught off guard by the standard.
“To the girls credit though, they communicated that really well with us, and it allowed us to accept it and just look at breaking the game down phase by phase. We knew what we were going to do and we could go out and play that style with confidence.”
The second quarter started with an Exeter goal, but the Jets response was emphatic, scoring an unanswered eight goals to level the game at 14-14. A back and forth quarter saw the Jets enter half time 23-24 down, but firmly back in the game.
“We were really proud of the group for rallying in such a way,” Green continued. “They definitely could have reacted badly to the shock of that first quarter, but they pulled together and worked their way back into the game brilliantly.
“The girls dug their heels in and it felt like all that resilience the girls built over the Regional league campaigns to earn our way into Prems came through. All those trips to playoffs where we were unsuccessful, that’s where resilience is built and the girls showed how valuable that is to our club.
“I think the girls really leaned into that, they trusted each other and didn’t allow each other to get down, they stayed really closely connected as a group.”
Returning for the third quarter, action continued in a goal for goal rhythm, with Exeter entering the final quarter 33-35 to the good.
“We maintained our efforts and intensity brilliantly in the third quarter, it was a really good show of character,” Green added.
The fourth quarter saw Exeter flex their muscles, turning their two goal advantage to an eventual six goal margin at the end, proving clinical and professional to seal the 40-46 win.
“They gave us such few opportunities to score in that final quarter,” said Green. “Exeter really stepped it up and we did make some costly errors, but full credit to them, they deserved their win in the end.
“We just couldn’t be prouder of our group. They know the level we’re at now and these games are going to continue to be tough, we’re playing a top level of netball now.
“This is such great experience for us though, we are still young at this level and to know we are not only competing but competing well against these top sides is such a positive and should give the girls massive confidence in where they are and where we’re aiming to get to.
“We could see the pressure we were putting them under and their captain told us as such after the game. So for us in our second Prem game to be putting up such a fight against a well established team like Exeter, I think we did a fantastic job.”
Player of the Match from the Jets went to teenage star Grace Thomson, who Green described as “phenomenal”.
“Her shooting stats were outstanding,” continued Green, “she scored 31 out of 34 goals attempted is a seriously impressive performance from such a young player at this level against that quality of defensive opposition.
“She played both Goal Shooter and Goal attack and opened up so much space, she caused absolute havoc in the circle. She showed such incredible composure and control for such a young player.
“She never stops going for ball, trying to create something and make something positive happen for the team, we’re so proud of her.
“In the defensive end, we stuck with Becca [Forrest] at Goal Keeper, Molly [Carre] at Goal Defence, Jodie [Blampied] at Wing Defence and Toni [Chaytor] at Centre. Jacy Brown was also excellent as well, playing nearly the whole game.
“Grace and Rosie [Tonner] switched in the offensive positions seamlessly throughout the game and worked really well together.
“Overall it was nice to see those seven have near enough a full game on court together. They had the opportunities to work things out in real time, communicate on court and overcome problems and find solutions as a team.
“There was a lot of leadership on court and I know it was a loss, but there were so many positives to take from it. I can’t be disappointed with what we put out there.”
Green was also keen to emphasize how grateful Team Jets are to both the Government of Jersey and Rok Group for opening up the new Oakfield for them to use, calling it “such a great venue”.
The Evelyn Partners Jets are next back in action this Sunday again at home in the new Oakfield Sports Centre, where they welcome Ryland Netball Club.
Evelyn Partners Jets squad
Rosie Tonner (c), Jodie Blampied (vc), Grace Thomson, Lara Spary, Jacy Brown, Maddie Fitzgerald-Wilkins, Toni Chaytor, Molly Carre, Sam Salzone, Becca Forrest
