A Standout Season for Bancroft’s Netball
As the netball season comes to a close, we take great pride in reflecting on an action-packed and successful year for Bancroft’s Netball. With nearly 250 domestic fixtures played across all year groups, our teams have shown tremendous skill, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the season.
The U12A team enjoyed a remarkable undefeated season, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and talent. Scoring over 300 goals, they set the standard for future success at Bancroft’s. Similarly, the U13A team remained unbeaten in their domestic fixtures, showcasing resilience and strong performances week in and week out.
As always, Bancroft’s entered the National Schools Netball Cup, Essex Cup, and for the first time, the Sister n Sport Schools Netball Cup. Unfortunately, we did not progress beyond the county round in Nationals this year, mainly due to the poor timing of the event. We aim to better manage this challenge next season and improve our performance on this prestigious stage.
Our greatest success this year has been in the Essex Cup, where our U14 team reached the final, which will be played this evening against St Martins. A victory would see Bancroft’s crowned the best U14 school team in Essex – a truly outstanding achievement.
The U16 team faced an early setback, losing in the first round against Woodlands in a tightly contested match. However, they bounced back strongly, winning two plate matches before narrowly missing out on the final against Brentwood. Meanwhile, the U19s performed well in their league campaign, finishing in 4th place and only missing out on the semi-finals by goal difference.
In the Sister n Sport Cup, the U14 and U15 teams both won their first-round matches but were eliminated in Round 2. The seniors were unfortunately knocked out in the first round and later defeated in the plate competition by Mill Hill.
Beyond the competitive scene, the U12s had a fantastic trip to Sheffield, where they played several fixtures, watched a SuperLeague Netball game, attended an Ice Hockey match, and took part in team-building activities. The experience was invaluable for their development, and their enthusiasm throughout the trip was a joy to witness.
Training this season has flourished, with participation numbers at an all-time high. This is a true testament to the pupils’ dedication, enjoyment, and desire to improve. A key figure in this growth has been our newly appointed netball coach, George Fisher (England Netball player), whose expertise and inspiration have been invaluable to the team’s development.
We have also had students successfully completing umpiring courses and helping to officiate during fixtures. Their commitment to developing a deeper understanding of the game and supporting their peers has been fantastic to see, and we look forward to more students taking up this opportunity in the future.
A huge thank you must go to all the staff members who have contributed to the netball programme this year. Your commitment and support have been instrumental in ensuring such a successful and enjoyable season. Congratulations also to all our players for their hard work, team spirit, and dedication throughout the season.
As we say farewell to our leavers, we wish them all the best in their future endeavours, with hopes that netball continues to play a significant role in their lives. Looking ahead, the future of Bancroft’s Netball is incredibly bright, and we are excited to build on this season’s achievements with the wealth of talent moving forward.
Here’s to another fantastic season of netball – and many more to come!
