AoC Sport national netballers go from strength to strength

The AoC Sport national netball squad maintained their 100 per cent record this season after beating Northern Ireland. The squad, coached by Gateshead College’s Julie Kimber, produced some excellent performances to win all four of their encounters against the Northern Irish under-17 and under-21 teams. A squad of 21, including three injured players, travelled to Antrim and after a slow start in the opening game, the 1^st team recovered to win 45-32 against NI U17s. All 11 players took to the court. The coaches’ players of the match (CPOM)

• Emily Clayton (Wyke College)
• Ella Barton (Cardinal Newman College)
• Grace Wood (Barton Peveril College)
• Players’ player was Emily Clayton

When the 2^nd team took to the court, they gelled straightaway and took a lead of 17-4 after the first quarter. The AoC squad maintained their level throughout the game and went on to win 54-36. The coaches’ players of the match

• Charlotte Richardson (Cardinal Newman College)
• Maddie Newcombe (Peter Symonds College)
• Demi Pontecelli (Henley College)
• Players’ player Demi Pontecelli

https://twitter.com/AocSquad/status/1228743187063283712?s=20 On the second day at the Antrim Forum Sports Centre, the 1st team played NI U21s and the 2nd team then played the U17 squad again. The 1st team took to the court against a very tall U21 squad who they had not played before. However, that did not faze them and the AoC team were dominant throughout to emerge as 75-42 winners. The 2nd team excelled in their match - scoring an extra 13 goals from the previous day to comfortably win 61-30. Coach Julie Kimber said: "Every single player on the Sunday stepped up and performed.” 1st team CPOM

• Grace Wood (Barton Peveril College)
• Taylor De Klerk (Cardinal Newman College)
• Katie Rawlings (USP, Seevic College)
• PP Grace Wood

2nd team CPOM

• Brogan Blake (Peter Symonds College)
• Ellie Peaks (Wyke College)
• Alyssia Patrick (Wyke College)
• PP Ellie Peaks

The squad met up for the first time at the Beacon of Light training camp in Sunderland in January. It was an opportunity for team building, drills, match play and team selections against Durham University 1^st and 2^nd teams. Both AoC squads were victorious with a very high number of turnovers and shooting stats. 1st team CPOM

• Taylor De Klerk (Cardinal Newman College)
• Lauren Knight (Richard Huish College)
• Sophie Jackson (Brockenhurst College)
• PP Taylor de Klerk

2nd team CPOM

• Maddie Newcombe (Peter Symonds College)
• Ellie Peaks (Wyke College)
• Yasmin Moorehead (Pontefract New College)
• PP Maddie Newcombe

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8osSs9hI39/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The next training camp is on 7 and 8 March in Fareham.