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Wednesday 5th November
Netball

U19 County Plate Tournament (Wrekin College), 1.30pm

This was held at Wrekin College with a large number of schools participating; the standard this year was very high.
 
We started off rather slowly in the first match against Shrewsbury VI Form (B) but soon picked up the pace with Lucy Belcher slotting into the team at WD very well. It was a closely-contested match, with each team edging ahead at some point. Oswestry hung on tenaciously and with Sophie Jones having to replace Victoria Bateman, whilst she received treatment for an injured knee, we eventually drew ahead to win 9-8.
 
The next match was against Adams Grammar School. Oswestry played superbly with everyone playing their part successfully; great defence work, good centre court links followed up by excellent work in the shooting circle.
Oswestry won 12-4
 
The match against Thomas Adams proved to be another nail-biter with the Adams defence giving our shooters a hard time, whilst their shooters were netting consistently. Again, Oswestry never gave up; they steadied down in mid-court and became more accurate with their final pass into the circle, richly deserving their 11-9 win.
 
As winners of our section we met William Brookes School in the semi-finals. Although William Brookes had the first centre pass and drew ahead, Oswestry's determination and tenacity won through. By now the girls were on fire - they worked so hard and held a very good lead to win 16-5.
 
In the final we met Thomas Adams again and although we had beaten them before in the section, we knew this would not be an easy match-so it proved. Thomas Adams had the first centre pass, which can be crucial in a tournament, and scored first. Oswestry then drew level and this was to prove the pattern throughout the match. Oswestry played their hearts out, supporting each other magnificently as tiredness began to set in at the end of a hard afternoon's play. Unfortunately, they were unable to edge ahead and the final whistle blew with Oswestry losing 9-10.
 
Although the girls were gutted to lose the final so closely, especially as this is the second year this has happened by 1 goal, they must never be down-hearted about the result; all the schools we played were far bigger than Oswestry School; they worked magnificently as a team; they never gave up but played consistently with enthusiasm and determination.
I am extremely proud of them all and they should be proud of themselves-they are wonderful role models for the rest of the Oswestry School teams and fantastic ambassadors for the school.

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT - MARTHA TWIGG

PK