After finishing top place in the Sussex County round, the U16As headed to regionals on Saturday 3 February. Only two teams would qualify for nationals, and the girls knew that the standard of play would be high – it did not disappoint on the day.
After a 13-5 win against Pipers Corner, the Hurst team suffered a 13-6 loss against a very strong side from St Helens and St Katharine’s. It was then time to regroup and refocus, and the girls put up a strong performance against The Marist. Despite being 5-3 down at half time, the team flew out of the blocks in the second half to take an 11-10 win. The girls then enjoyed a winning streak for the next two games, securing a 16-10 victory against Walton High, and another impressive 31-1 win against Ryde.
The final group game was a must win against a strong St Swithun’s team; it was the best netball the girls played all day, and they finished up 14-9 which saw them secure 2nd place in the group and move into the semi-final. The semi-finals was another must win game, and the girls managed to secure a victory against Roedean – some nervous play in the first half saw both teams tied at 5-5 at half-time, however a strong second half saw the 16s win 12-9, gaining a place in the finals in March.
The final of the day against Wellington saw Hurst start a little slowly and they were down 11-2 at half-time. A much stronger second half saw the game end on a final score of 18-9 to Wellington, though the girls had already done enough to make it to nationals. The finals will take place in March, and the team will be working hard to make sure they are ready to give it their best shot on the day.
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