This Is Guernsey

Wokingham 26, Guernsey 34

THE Guernsey under-19s did themselves proud as they got the South Region Division Two campaign off to a cracking start. The Guernsey Netball Association have decided to give the young team a chance at playing some of matches and they totally justified the decision away to Wokingham, a side who came down from Division One last year.

With nerves jangling, it was up to experienced players Amy Wright, Lyndsey Bougourd and Zola Bourgaize to keep the team’s feet on the ground, all three having played in this competition last year as part of the senior squad.

But overall it was an excellent team performance.

Both shooters, Kiara De Carteret and Bourgaize, were firing at will and giving the defence of Wokingham a tough work-out.

Through the mid court, Bougourd worked well with Donna Brehaut and Wright to make many interceptions and with speed and accuracy, the ball went down to the shooters.

One of the performances of the day came from Roxanne Wylie.

Her usual position is in the shooting circle, but on this occasion she was playing goalkeeper, although giving away valuable inches to her opponent. She pulled off some timely interceptions, with the athleticism and ability to read play.

Denise Bourgaize was the travelling coach and she made some tactical changes in the last quarter and shuffled her pack, moving daughter Zola to GS, Lisa Martin to WA and Bougourd to GA.

Wokingham took too long to get to grips with the speed of the attack and the girls managed to put three shots away before the opposition could reply.

Another plus at the weekend was Nigel Gill. He umpired the game while being mentored by Jenny Poore and has been recommended for assessment for the B award.

* ZOLA BOURGAIZE and Lyndsey Bougourd, as part of PWC Academy, travelled to Aldershot yesterday to trial for the South Region Under-19 Super League squad.