SPORT// NETBALL
NETBALL
Pre-Season Training
The 2018 season started with an exciting day of pre- season
training in early January, as we welcomed Surrey Storm player,
Georgia Lees to Pocklington to put our Netballers through
their paces in preparation for the season ahead. Georgia was
able to coach all age groups throughout the day, working
1st VII
Although a young 1st VII this season with a major injection
of talented Fifth Form players, the girls gelled superbly from
the word go. Attendance at pre- season training was a great
representation of the time and effort that this squad was
prepared to put in to ensure their season was a success.
Our first game of the season saw up travel down the A1 to
Worksop; a strong Worksop side set the pace of the game from
the offset and although the score was close, it was not in our
favour; the game was a great test of skill and fitness from which
we benchmarked in going forward. That was the turning point
for the Pock girls; from that moment, the intensity of training
both on the court and at S and C was turned up and notch and
the 1st VII trained until some of them were physically sick-
and that was the indicator of true grit and determination to
improve. As the season progressed, we had to wait some weeks
for our first win as we faced some very tough opposition in the
form of Queen Margaret’s, Ampleforth and Giggleswick but
our first win of the season came against Hull Collegiate when
the girls were finally able to taste the fruits of their labours and
our season continued to go from strength to strength.
A tough day of Netball at the Queen Margaret’s tournament
was to conclude the season. Our draw for the day put us up
mainly on the principles of defence and attack. True to form,
the Pock Netball girls were attentive and focussed throughout
the day, making the most of the opportunity in front of them-
to learn from one of the best in the game! Thanks to Georgia
for her coaching and expertise; what better way to kick off our
2018 season!?
LKH
against some of the best Netball school teams in the country,
Sedbergh and St Peter’s to name just two. The Pock girls once
again rose to the challenge and came away with a great buzz
from the contest they faced on that day to come away with
some wins under their belts.
The 2018 1st VII squad will be remembered as a team full
of characters and true Pocklingtonians! Katie Williams
deserves a mention as top goal scorer, supported ably by GS,
Amie Mason- together, these two in attack created no end
of problems for our opposition; Emelia Couttie’s dynamism
on court was awesome! Sophie McCracken was an excellent
Captain, whose humour and straight-talking as well as her
work rate on the court made her a superb leader who led
by example. Special mention must go to U6 player, Georgia
Brown whose commitment to the squad never wavered and
she was the incredibly skilled GK who kept us in many games
throughout the season. Both these U6 girls have been exactly
what we need as role models for younger members of the
squad and I can’t thank them both enough for their faultless
dedication to Netball at Pock. Emma Hanley will lead the team
next season as Captain and Evie Hirst will take on the role as
Vice Captain- both skilled players with excellent desire and
attitudes towards training and playing and I wish them every
success as they continue the legacy of 1st VII Netball at Pock.
LKH
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
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