Kesgrave High School are celebrating after two of their girls' netball teams qualified for the regional finals of the National School's Netball Competition.

By Stuart Watson

Kesgrave High School are celebrating after two of their girls' netball teams qualified for the regional finals of the National School's Netball Competition.

The under-14 and under-16 Kesgrave sides have been in outstanding form this season, both cruising to victory in the South Suffolk and Suffolk rounds of the national competition.

In addition, both sides remain undefeated in their respective school leagues.

Kesgrave netball coach Amy Songer said: “They are just a really talented and dedicated bunch of girls who love their netball and are really determined.

“They train twice a week with the school in addition to training with their club sides, while many are with the Suffolk Satellite Academy and Suffolk squads.

“The girls are getting something of a reputation around the schools now they have been so dominant, but they have not been arrogant with it.”

In the south Suffolk round of the national tournament, Kesgrave's U16 team scored 57 goals throughout the tournament to comfortably win through.

The following Suffolk round took place at Lowestoft's Kirkley High School where Kesgrave played six schools.

After a nervous start, Kesgrave began to play with style and confidence, shooters Lucy Adams and Kirtsy Turner helping their team to an opening 8-2 victory over the host school.

From there, Kesgrave continued their domination, beating King Edwards VI 13-3, Ipswich School 8-5, Thurston Upper 7-6, Great Cornard Upper 12-6 and Sir John Leman 9-2.

This under-16 side went out at the regional stage of the national tournament at under-14 level, so will be hoping to go one stage further as a squad this year.

The new U14 team have enjoyed a similarly comfortable route to the regional stages. In the south Suffolk round, Kesgrave won six of their seven matches, scoring 46 goals and conceding just 13.

In the countywide round, the U14s battled to good wins over King Edwards (7-6), Thurston (9-7) and St Felix (11-8), to progress.

The regional round will take place at some stage in February, with venue and date yet to be confirmed.

Under-16 captain Kate Allen said: “For the five years I have been captain of this team I never been as

proud as I was when the final whistle confirming we were through to the regionals.

“Although we qualified for the same tournament as under-14s, this year it was even more

special and a real achievement to do it twice.

“None this would have been possible without our coach Miss Hubbard's support and dedication

and the encouragement we have received to succeed.”

Under-14 captain Evie Adams said: “One reason to our great success is our training regime. We train two times a week and, in those sessions, we work on skills and play half court matches to put the skills into practice.

“We are also very grateful to have a fabulous coach in Miss Songer who makes all the right decisions and is incredibly helpful when we play.”

U14 squad: Nikki Dijon, Lyns Cozens, Evie Adams (cpt), Megan Rafferty, Sam Wardley, Jess Harvey, Charlie Boon and Steph Ledger.

U16 squad: Kate Allen (cpt), Brooke Daniels, Gemma Lowe, Amy Gardiner, Kirsty Turner, Sam Ledger, Jo Cozens, Alice Mayhew, Rebecca Tills and Lucy Adams.