SAS GS Sammy MacBride takes a shot at Beau Sejour at the weekend. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0657516)
DEFENDING champions SAS ruled the roost once again at the weekend in the Guernsey Netball Open.
The team from St Albans defeated home side Nerine A in yesterday’s final to complete an unbeaten two days at Beau Sejour in the Sports Guernsey-sponsored tournament.
‘We won it last time, so the aim was to retain it,’ said SAS captain Lucy Hitchenor. ‘It was a good weekend. Obviously it can be quite challenging [playing several short matches in two days]. You have to keep focused and you are constantly either playing or warming up or warming down. It is quite rigorous.’
SAS were favourites going into the weekend and justified their billing.
Nerine A might have run them closer in the final had they had more of their squad available, but with Claire Queripel, Gemma Loveridge, Nena Bourgaize and Sonia Grant-Yendell all missing from yesterday’s line-up, they weren’t as strong as they could have been.
However, coach James Robert took a lot of positives from the experience.
‘It was a brilliant weekend,’ he said.
‘There was lots of good netball played, we have definitely seen that the juniors have progressed as it has gone on, there has been some excellent shooting from youngsters under pressure and they have been really up for it throughout.
‘I cannot wait until we get to do it all again in two years’ time.’
Overall, 12 teams took part in the main two-day open competition, with five visiting sides from the UK and Jersey taking on seven locals.
Although indications earlier this year suggested that there would be more visiting sides making the journey to the island, organiser Gill Queripel said that not having them all here did not detract from the event.
‘We were quite disappointed that people dropped out, but what can you do? You can only go with what you’ve got and everyone seems to have enjoyed it,’ she said.
‘In fact, it was quite nice having 12 because it is a comfortable number and it means that teams are on-off regularly when the three courts are being used.
‘It was also great to see a lot of youngsters having a go against different opposition.’
Queripel had predicted that SAS would be the side to watch out for having seen the early exchanges on Saturday.
‘They are a good side, well-polished and they will contest every ball,’ she said.
As usual, Queripel was proved right, although it was unfortunate for her that it was her own Nerine sides, B and A respectively, who felt the full force of SAS in the semi-final and final.
The Hertfordshire side were worthy winners.
Article posted on 20th October, 2008 - 2.29pm
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