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Wednesday 3rd February
Netball

U16 North Shropshire Tournament, Ellesmere College, 4pm

Well girls . . what can I say?

We got back to school two and half hours ago (around 6.20pm) and I have just about thawed out despite wearing thermals and a ski jacket!  I have the utmost respect for you all.  With the weather being more akin to a CCF weekend (where at least you have trousers, layers on and shelter), you performed extremely well in bare legs, and hoodies.  The ball was slippy, the courts not much better, and, frankly, the sleet and cold made it, for me, the worst conditions I have ever had to umpire in, or take a team to play in.  Your strength of spirit as a team and individuals was truly remarkable.  On top of this, the stamina you needed to play solidly for one and a quarter hours (when netball matches themselves are only a maximum of one hour) showed your work and support of each other as a team.

Natalie Renwick - your work with Sophie Yates in the shooting circle showed no evidence of the fact that you are usually in defence.  Well done, you're a star!  Sophie - as always your performance was outstanding.  I can always rely on you to do your job well.  Louise Aust - I fail to remember the last time you played in centre court, but you did so with strength and fed the ball so well into the circle. Well done!  Laura Doyle, as a centre myself I know how tiring it is as that link player, but you kept your performance level up in defence and attack.  Well done!  Seren - fantastic work as WD, again slightly out of position, but you played great games. Very impressed.   Rhiannon Evans - solid in defence, as usual.  Well done.  Lorna Hankey - playing as GK, you read the play very well,  and made a great combination with Rhiannon.  Well done.  Victoria Whittingham - despite still not back on court -  thank you for undertaking team manager, first aider and fruit pastille distributor roles for me!  And of the players, last but not least, Chloe.  I know you didn't get on to play, but you didn't complain, and were just as much of the team effort in surviving the elements. Thank you.  In addition to the squad, I would also like to thank our ever-undeterred supporters, Mr Aust and Mrs Yates.  You were absolute stars for pitching up (as usual) and encouraging our team from the sidelines.  I hope you also managed to get a hot chocolate from the table that was hidden from view!

As yet, our final position in the tournament needs to be confirmed, as it was run as a round robin with no quarter, semi or final matches, attributable to the conditions.  So watch this space . . .

Ms Willis