AS far as league tables go, not many look as close as Netball South West Regional League 1.
Team Jets, coached by former England captain Serena Kersten, currently sit pretty in second place, but as the campaign reaches the halfway stage, the fight for promotion is hotly contested.
Hucclecote Comets currently occupy top spot with 34 points after nine games.
Jets sit just two points back, with a game in hand to their advantage.
However, such is the competition between the sides, just five points separate the table-toppers and Titans Lightning in seventh.
The campaign and fixtures within it have been closely fought and the second half of the season has a real “anyone can beat anyone” feel.
Head coach Kersten said: “It’s a really competitive league this year, probably more so than ever since I’ve been in the role.
“There’s a lot of teams gunning for promotion, not just us, which has not always been the case.”
Co-captain Rosie Tonner was slightly critical of her side during the early stages of the season, citing that it “was a slower start than we would have liked”.
“We’ve had some new and returning faces to the squad so it has taken us some time to gel in our combinations, but we are building each game,” added the goal attack.
The Caesareans, who did not feature in the first round of league fixtures, got off to an ideal start by winning each of their first three matches by comfortable margins.
A double-header at the tail end of September for their first round of fixtures saw Kersten’s team breeze past ENC Equinox 45-35, followed by Galmington the next day 46-31.
The Islanders’ first home game came on 7 October, when they played host to Titans Lightning.
In front of a large, engrossed Les Ormes audience, Jets overcame Lightning 44-32 in their first home fixture since 2019.
However, netball campaigns are long and gruelling. Even the top teams are prone to changes of form.
Lightning would avenge their defeat, 46-39, and, in doing so, hand Jersey their first loss.
Momentum shifted. From three wins on the bounce, to the next three without a win.
The way fixtures are structured meant the Jets would wait a month to play again.
On the long gaps between fixtures, Tonner said: “It is difficult. However, we have been doing it for a number of years now so we are used to the double-header weekends.
“We’ve also been doing match play against our training partners and the Under-16 Jets on weekends where we don’t have a fixture to keep our momentum up which has really helped.”
When they did return again on 4 November, it was a trip to the high-flying Hucclecote Comets.
In what would have been seen as a great opportunity to bounce back from defeat and a valuable opportunity to test themselves against one of the leagues better teams, an entertaining affair left both sides ruing chances as the contest concluded in a 49-49 stalemate.
Another three-week gap followed, but Kersten’s side were back home as they played host to Mavericks Eagles, keen to lay down the gauntlet.
However, in a disappointing match, Eagles managed to hold the Jets 43-43. A second draw in succession saw Tonner and co slide down to mid-table.
She added: “We were really disappointed with the two draws.
“We were really challenging and pushing ourselves in training to see where we could improve to ensure we come out on top in those close games moving forwards.”
That hard work paid off, as Kersten’s side came roaring back to their best form in the final two games of 2023.
In what appeared a very difficult weekend on paper, early December saw the Jets travel for a double-header weekend against promotion foes Poole and Wimborne Aquarians A.
Facing a young, fast Poole outfit that featured some Super League player experience for the game, Jets were in imperious form to dominate their rivals 58-43 and blow the league wide open once more.
To make the weekend even sweeter, the following day Team Jets turned over Wimborne in a back-and-forth affair which was eventually decided by just one point, Jets winning a nail-biter 55-54 to move up the league into second.
Still with a game in hand over those around them, in the first league fixture of 2024, the Caesareans have an opportunity to ascend to the top of the league when they welcome familiar foes Poole to Les Ormes on Sunday.
Attacking force Tonner continued: “We’re all super excited to start the new year with a home game.
“It’s been amazing to be back playing in front of our home crowd after many years of only having away fixtures.
“All the games we have played at home so far have been tightly contested so I’m sure we have left the crowd on the edge of their seats at times.
“It will be our last home game of the season so we really want to put in a big performance for our supporters and hopefully come away with the win.”
Following the Poole fixture is an excellent opportunity to grab points with double-header weekend against lower table opposition – eighth-placed Team Bath A and struggling bottom side Galmington.
Late January could prove pivotal, when Jets meet Hucclecote Comets again.
There’s every reason to think the pair will still be the two league front runners when they face off again.
Neither was able to assert their dominance when they shared the spoils earlier in the season and a win for either side in the clash would send a serious message.
Kersten added: “It’s going to continue to be tough.
“It’s really important to be able to stay in our bubble and not look too far ahead.
“Getting into the play-off’s would be lovely, but we’ve got to finish off the league first.
“So we just have to take it step by step and I’ll be making sure that I keep the girls grounded within our plan.”
