6th form Netball Champions
Year 12 and 13 flew to Glasgow on Thursday Jan 29th in preparation for the 2009 County and Welsh Championships. They had an action packed programme of city tours, leisure activities topped by a netball tournament on the Saturday. Strathclyde University, our hosts, were outstanding in the planning of our tour and in the welcome that we received. We have offered a return visit to Swansea to extend the same welcome here.
The Netball was also a total success with all fourteen players playing in at least two of the games with an unbeaten record in all four matches. Our toughest opposition was Strathclyde themselves who we watched clinch the Scottish University top spot earlier that day against Edinburgh University. Olchfa 1st team beat Strathclyde 18 – 15. A combined Olchfa 1st and 2nd team then won convincingly against Caledonian University and Glasgow County B Under 17 teams. The scores were 11 – 8 and 18 – 4 respectively. For the final game to clinch the tournament Olchfa A team took to the court to play Glasgow A team and they won the game 18 – 5 .
As coach and 6th form Director I was so proud of these girls. Most of their preparation had happened prior to Christmas as they were heavily involved in January exams. They have put a tremendous amount of time and heartache into playing Netball on a Monday night in the Swansea senior league. It is a fiercely competitive environment where they have had to suffer significant defeats. Their wisdom and strength of character to learn from these heavy defeats will have a tremendous influence on their ability to cope with pressure, not just on the netball court but in a whole variety of tough environments. Well done ladies you have done yourselves, your families and your school very proud.
Can I also extend a huge thank you to Glenda Dowdell who assisted me on the weekend. The time she gave up and good care offered to the whole party was really appreciated. Our next plans are for a Caribbean tour, probably a return visit to Jamaica. Watch this space !
Bev Ryan