England national netball player energises the St Mary's Sixth Form squad

St Mary's Sixth Form netball team is ready for the challenge of the new season, having been inspired by one of the best, Ella Bowen, who is an England player and member of the Superleague team Manchester Thunder.

The team's weekend at Condover Hall, Shropshire at the beginning of term was a fantastic opportunity to learn from Ella, who shared how she manages being a high-level netball player with her university studies and social life.

Intense sessions with Elite Netball Coaching on a range of attacking and defending skills, followed up by some zip wire and high aerial trekking activities, warmed the team up for an evening match on the Saturday against Truro High School for Girls.

St Mary's narrowly lost despite some excellent team and individual play, with one of the umpiring professional coaches specifically noting Sophia D.'s tenacity in wing defence.

Sophia, captain of the St Mary's team, also showed excellent leadership skills on and off the court throughout the weekend.

Two more coaching sessions on Sunday before a match against Woldringham resulted in the team pulling together and using everything they had learned across the weekend to win 15-9.

They are now looking forward to putting everything practiced into action during the netball season.

Well done to Tabi H., Sophia D., Alexa B., Ellie D., Gracie G., Libby H., Hannah P., Lara C., Carlotta H. and Isla T.