A huge congratulations to our Open A Netball team, Somerset has again claimed the State Championship. The Team brings home the Vicki Wilson Cup, in what was an unbelievable netball tournament for our team!
Somerset won the trophy for the first time in history back in 2018, and then in 2019, won the QISSN (Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball) Cup.
2021 was shaping up to be the best year ever with the team taking out the APS premiership for the fifth consecutive year, winning the Wallas-Bassingthwaighte trophy (All Saints/Somerset Headmasters' clash) and taking out the HDNA Division 1 opens competition on Monday night.
QISSN was the team’s first scheduled state event held in July, and it was hoped that we would have a good shot at defending our title (2020 cancelled due to COVID). Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be with the tournament being cancelled on Day 3 due to a COVID outbreak. It was very disappointing for all involved – especially Somerset with an undefeated run of six from six, sitting top of the pools and knowing there was no opportunity to bring back the silverware.
With the Vicki Wilson Cup All Schools state event only a month later, it was time to regroup, refocus and get back to training.
Unfortunately COVID continued to be a menace, forcing a reschedule of the Vicki Wilson Cup Finals to September. The girls continued to stay strong in the lead up in what was challenging times as our NSW students negotiated border crossings and faced uncertainty of being able to participate.
With a full team lined up, the first game for the tournament was against Matthew Flinders QISSN and VW Grand Finalists, but it wasn’t a problem for the team with a good first win of 48 to 35.
Throughout the two day tournament the girls went undefeated with some big wins and set to play Southport in the Grand Final! And what a grand final it was!
Without the services of inspiring GK Trinity Toia due to a sprained ankle, the defensive end had to reshuffle. Ellie Muir moved to GK, Bayley d'Hotman de Villiers to GD, Georgia Wilson to WD and Jemma Clements at C, all outstanding, forming a dominant diamond of complete pressure forcing Southport into uncharacteristic errors.
The Somerset attacking starting lineup felt the defensive pressure from Southport also making some early changes with Marika Ransfield coming off the bench to WA, making an immediate impact by gaining some valuable intercepts. Charli Pearse moved into the GA position to speed up the circle to alleviate some of the pressure on Elsa Sandholt, finishing the first half with a low scoring 11 to 6 lead.
In a hard fought out match it was evident that our Captain Amaris Toia wasn’t playing to be runners up. Introduced to the final as a WA for the first time all year, she grabbed the opportunity and looked right at home. Her feeding was superb and timing was with perfection as she had no trouble delivering the ball to her shooters in style.
The defensive effort was outstanding, never giving up and with such determination. The shooting team of Elsa and Charli was heartwarming to watch as Charli’s speed and accuracy was the key to freeing up the strong, athletic, dominance of Elsa as shooter.
The absolute determination and workload of our Year 12s Amaris, Georgia and Jemma was obvious. All played season best games and led the way for the rest of their team to follow, in what was one of the best team performances Somerset has had in a Grand Final.
As coaches, we watched in awe as the girls battled away in true Spartan style, patient and crafty on attack, and relentless on defence, winning the Grand Final comfortably in the end 27 to 15.
CONGRATULATIONS TEAM!
Game scores
vs Mathew Flinders - 48 to 35
vs Downlands - 56 to 27
vs Ipswich - 56 to 18
vs Mackay - 60 to 18
vs Townsville - 56 to 18
vs St Peters - 34 to 34
vs Southport - 27 to 15
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