The Year 7 team was newly formed in September 2013 following a

The Year 7 team was newly formed in
September 2013 following a large number of
participants at netball club. The team trained
on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s all season to build
netball and teamwork skills. The original
selection consisted of keen netballers;
Rhianna Butler, Willow Botton, Téa Stock,
Georgina Quilley, Franki King, Chloe Page,
Susana Ciecwierz and Myca Taylor. With
Hathaway Academy and Ormiston Park
Academy not entering Year 7 teams this
season, the girls had seven matches to play
Home and Away for the season. Prior to
Christmas, the team played away at Gable Hall
and William Edwards Schools, unfortunately
with big losses.
In the spring term, the team lost two players,
but gained a new recruit, Olivia Powell. The
girls again suffered a defeat at neighbouring
school St Clere’s. Unfortunately Olivia was
injured in a non-netball related incident and
again new recruits joined the team, Lauren
Revell and Emily Blake. The team underwent a
complete reconstruction of positions and key
players, and trained hard to learn to work
together strategically and cooperatively. Their
debut game as a fresher team was away
against Gateway Academy, which was a fast
paced and close game. By half time the girls
were drawing 4-4, narrowly losing in the
second half 7-4. Despite losing the girls were
elated to have beat their scoring record and to
only have conceded 7 goals.
With our new recruits, came backing from
players parents supporting the team both
home and away. The team gained renewed
belief and confidence in themselves with their
cheer squad supporting them. After a tough
start to the season, the Year 7 netball team
found success at home against Harris
Academy, defeating them 16-0. The girls
used all their hard work from training to
apply defensive strategies to prevent Harris
scoring any goals.
The formidable pairing of
Lauren Revell’s height and
Franki King’s quick
reactions kept the Harris
shooters far away from the
post. Down the opposite
end of court the quick
movements and accuracy of
Rhianna Butler and Willow
Botton gained 16 goals.
The quick passing of centre court players,
Susana Ciecwierz, Georgina Quilley,
Emily Blake and Myca Taylor ensured
Hassenbrook dominated the game.
Following from the girls first success, they
again accomplished a win at home but this
time against Ockendon Academy. They pulled
through a tough first half where the score was
neck a neck but applied marking strategies to
force the opposition to make errors and
gaining a lead of 11-5, maintained their home
advantage.
To end the season the team took part in a rally
against all the schools in the borough. The
team were in a tough pool against Grays
Convent, Gable Hall School and Harris
Academy. The first game was a close 10
minutes of fast paced netball against Grays
Convent. In the second half the opposition
pulled ahead winning 2-0. The second match
was against Gable Hall, a successful and
established team in the borough. Our girls
unfortunately lost 3-0 but managed to stop the
opposition scoring a large number of goals this
time round. The third match was against
Harris Academy, who they successfully beat
3-1. Although the team did not get into the
semi-finals of the rally they did finish their
season on a high, with confidence and belief
that they will be a stronger team next season.
Well done girls, I have every faith in you all!
Miss K Herrington, Girls PE