Somerset Netballers Compete in State Events

Many of our top netballers were kept busy during the school holidays, competing in state events rescheduled due to COVID. It was exciting times as Netball Queensland confirmed the events would go ahead for the hundreds of netballers who have been training hard to represent their school, association and region.

With strict COVID plans in place the first event was the Nissan State titles for 16 Under and 18U over three days, held in Brisbane.

Successful Somerset players to represent our top regional side, the Bond University Bullsharks 16U team were, Atlanta Horan, Ellie Muir, Bailey d’Hotman de Villiers and Jemma Clements with Charli Pearse and Trinity Toia, named as training partners. The team had huge success winning the State title with some outstanding performances from our girls. Huge congratulations go to Bailey d’Hotman de Villiers being named in the 2021 Queensland 17U squad.

The 18U Bullsharks team also won the State title with former students Rylee Burns and Kasey Collins being instrumental in their team's state title win. Congratulations to Rylee for her selection in the 2021 Queensland 19U squad and Australian 19U squad.

Queensland State Age Carnival

Fifteen Spartan netballers headed to the Sunshine Coast for the biggest State Netball carnival of the year, with over 2000 participants in attendance. Players represented their regional association over the four days with Netball Queensland doing an outstanding job of managing players and spectators with stringent COVID restrictions.

The Hinterland 13 Years team comprised of five Somerset players from the team of 10, going on to win the Queensland State Age title. Celebrating their gold medal win are Year 7 students Marley and Rio Burns, Daisy Webber, Ciena Bailey and Year 8 student Kinari Patel. Well done girls!

Queensland Vicki Wilson Cup

The VWC was held during the long weekend in Brisbane with 70 school teams competing from all over Queensland. Due to COVID, disappointed parents had to stay home as no spectators were allowed. Our Open A team has been training hard and looking forward to this event all year after the cancellation of QISSN in June, due to COVID.

With our youngest team ever to represent the College at this event, and comprising of five Year 9s, two Year 10s and three Year 11s, the focus was on embracing the learning experience for our youngsters, improving each game and striving to make the top 10 in the State.

Following a strong first game performance on Saturday against Siena Catholic College, the girls were happy with their 23 to 16 win. Unfortunately a winning streak was not to be when we matched up for the second game against John Paul College, going down 26 to 21 in a tight, hard-fought match. Bouncing back, in the third match saw an easy win against Moranbah State High School. The team displayed solid improvement in preparation for the evening game versus St Margaret Mary’s Collegé. Another consistent team effort from our young side who took the win, 33 to 13.

Sunday’s first game win was against APS opposition Coomera Anglican College 37 to 14 and a second win versus Downlands College 34 to 14, finishing the day in the top 16.

Monday was finals day and the knockout rounds. With just one win away from the top eight, and facing a strong Canterbury College side, the team were well prepared and determined to meet the goals set. A strong defensive team effort upset the opposition, in the end to win convincingly 33 to 19, to take a spot in the top eight and play off for the top four against our familiar rivals Matthew Flinders.

With only a 30 minute turnaround between games, both teams were feeling fatigued as the match went goal for goal for most of the game. It wasn’t until the late three minutes in the final quarter that determined the winner with Flinders taking a three goal lead when Charli Pearse, our young dynamic GA went down with an injury forcing her off the court. In a courageous effort by the defence, gaining valuable intercepts in the last minute, it wasn’t meant to be with Flinders taking the game 29 to 26 and Somerset finishing in an impressive sixth place overall.

Congratulations to Captain Amais Toia, Charli Pearse, Atlanta Horan, Jemma Clements, Georgia Wilson, Bayley d’Hotman de Villiers, Ellie Muir, Marika Ransfield, Trinity Toia and Lucy Millar.