4TH VII

P6 W4 D0 L2 F123 A116

Squad

E. Ajayi-Akinsulire (F), E. Clark (M), M. Deaton (F), R. English (F), G. Hiatt (F), J. Liu (F), H. Morgan (F), C. Nleme (F), A. Timms (F), F. Yip (F)

Squad

Captain: M. Gaunt (G)

Vice-Captain: F. Lloyd (M)

A. Aneca-Human (A), Z. Barkey (M), F. Birmingham (M), A. Edwards (M), A. Williams (M), K. Wylie (M), K. Ward (G)

This was a highly rewarding and enjoyable season for the U15As, with a team bursting with promise, energy and enthusiasm. Perhaps above all else though, this was a team rich in camaraderie and cohesion,

The 4th VII enjoyed a really good season, not least because from the off they gelled as a team and played well together. Their communication and approach, along with their attitude both on and off court, was always positive, productive and forwardlooking, and they continually looked at ways to improve and tweak their skills. It was a real pleasure to coach them.

The term started strongly with wins in their first three fixtures. Frustratingly, the middle of the season was hampered by the weather (snow!), but they ended it with a close match, clawing back the goals to win against Denstone. Having only lost two games, the players can be proud of their performances this season.

Glh

one that enjoyed their netball and supported each other throughout, and I thoroughly enjoyed every training session and match.

A special mention should go to Maisey G, our Captain, whose calmness and determination permeated everything she did, and she was a true role-model for others. Our Vice-Captain Freya L showed a legendary ability to inspire and motivate others at difficult times, even when carrying an injury. Amélie A-H was new to this squad of girls this year making an instant impression with admirable adaptability and willingness to play almost anywhere on the court; the number of Player of the Match awards she was awarded is testament to her efforts and achievements this season.

We had some very good matches throughout the season with eight wins and eight losses in total, scoring more goals than we conceded, and special thanks should go to Kate W and Abigail E for their efforts inside the goal circle. We also performed well at the highly competitive Uppingham Tournament early in the season where we notably beat tough opposition in Oundle and Stamford, and narrowly missed 3rd place by just one point.

In truth, the success of a season can be measured not just by the results but by the enjoyment. On that measure then, the U15s were faultless, and the achievements and company of a terrific group of skilled and friendly players will live very long in the memory. I look forward to following their continued success in the coming years.

On a final note I wish to thank many of the U15Bs who stepped up to play in the Derbyshire tournament on the last Thursday of term to replace our absent and Cup-tied players, and who represented the School admirably to finish 3rd in their group with two wins and two losses. Well done indeed and thank you for your efforts.

SMI

P11 W3 D1 L7 F66 A111

Squad

C. Coulborn (F), S. Derby (M),

I. Hambleton (F),

R. Korylco-Bowers (M), L. Langley (M),

A. Millard-Smith (A), I. Nash (F),

N. Osborne (A), C. Turton (A),

I. White (M), M. Wyke (F)

The overall scores for the U15B team do not reflect the truth of the season for this outstanding set of players, who were an utter delight to coach and umpire. Their season was one marked by camaraderie, passion and positivity of approach.

The term started with the Uppingham Tournament. This experience taught them a great deal about working together to create patterns of play and effectively move the ball down the court – Clara C, Imogen N and Niamh O proving very effective here as stalwarts of the centre third. Over the course of the day wins against Uppingham and Stamford and a draw to Oakham all showed the success of the shooters, with a very effective partnership developing between Mitzy W and Izzy H, and Raphie K-B also contributed here with some skilful play.

The most memorable game of the season was against Oakham with Serena D, once again, showcasing her formidable work rate and creating as many opportunities for the team as possible. The defensive powerhouses for the term, Lydia L and Izzy W, showed unflagging determination in every match they played. This undoubtedly helped to deliver a 19-4 win for the final match of the season against Denstone, where Amber M-S’s fluidity of movement once more proved another important element of the team’s success. Every match relied on the players moving around positions and this was especially true of Christabel T, whose versatility in the centre of the court, and skill and consistency in defence, made her a truly invaluable member of the team.

AFP

P5 W3 D0 L2 F116 A27

Squad

G. Cottingham (F), A. Edwards (F), M. Haines (M), T. Morley (A), E. Morrison (A), E. Moseley (M), I. Reaves (A), E. Sandhu (A), I. Sheppard (M), L. Vacher Peña (F) Also played: H. Dabbs (M)

The U15C netball team remained undefeated, convincingly winning all matches. Our phenomenal shooters amassed an impressive total of 116 goals in five games this season, and the fact that only 27 goals were conceded speaks to the exceptional determination of the defence players in each game.

Particular highlights included the opening 24-0 victory against Denstone, in which Grace C, Isla R and Effie M successfully intercepted and thwarted

Squad

Z. Evans (F), Z. Mackenzie (M), I Mayman (F), A. Metcalf (F), G. Oborn (G), M. Ogden (F), I. Semmence (M), S. Stewart (M), I. Thompstone (M), E. Walne (F) every single opposition attempt at goal, and Emma M was awarded Player of the Match for scoring 14 thrilling goals. Despite a heroic fall, the everaccurate Ehmun S fought on, with the help of Luna V P as her tireless GA, and Imi S, courageously debuting as GS for a quarter, skilfully secured a 15-7 win against Rugby - our fiercest opponents of the season. Tabitha M, Martha H and Alice E majestically maneuvered midcourt with vision and precision and were fundamental in the brilliant 28-5 scoreline, despite the rain and hail at Uppingham.

It has been quite a season for the U14A team. Despite only having played together for a matter of weeks, they managed to emerge victors of the Derbyshire County Cup back in November. This meant qualification for the Regional Finals in February, where once again they showed their mettle and reached the Final, only losing marginally to QEGS Ashbourne. Their 2nd place secured them a place in the National Finals which was a fantastic achievement in itself. So many schools play netball all year round and many players represent their respective Counties and Regions outside of school. To be placed in the top 18 in the country is an incredible accolade and one to be very proud of.

In addition to these ex‘C’ellent achievements, the team were exceptionally gracious and positive, truly embodying Repton spirit in every game. They are commended on a fantastic season indeed! NK

W6 D0 L6 F227 A185

We have also enjoyed some fantastic netball in our inter-school matches. The highlight of the season was probably in our match against Shrewsbury, where we trailed for three quarters of the game and then came out fighting in the final quarter to romp ahead and win by six goals. The girls showed such grit and determination, despite it being something of nail-biter! In all of our matches, what has struck me has been their willingness to always work hard and work together as a team. When the going has been tough (the fixtures against Rugby and Oakham spring to mind!), they have never dropped their heads but got on with the job in hand, and for that I am so very proud of them. The girls have each taken a turn at captaining the side and they have each – in their own individual way – done a great, job learning about the importance of leadership and uniting the team in a common goal.

They will be a team to watch. It has been a very enjoyable term, full of funny moments as well as hard work and I look forward to seeing this group of strong, fit and able young women progress further in their netball careers as they move up the School.

NMD

P12

W6 D0 L6 F168 A137

SQUAD

Captain: L. Miller (G)

E. Andrew (M), J. Blunt (G), H. Casey (G), C. Court (G), J. Litchfield (F), L. Millard (M), E. Tassell (A)

Also played: E. Gent (G), A. Flavell (M), S. Pascoe (M), B. Stannard (M)

Liverpool had The Beatles; the Netherlands had Cruyff; the US has JFK. Repton has the U14Bs.

I judge a season on whether we won games we could have lost, or lost games we should have won. Only one fixture, against Rugby, falls foul of this yardstick – we should have been four goals up in the first quarter, were two up at half-time, and somehow contrived to lose by seven. By the same token, some of more eye-catchingly victorious scorelines reflect a mismatched fixture rather than a necessarily-stellar performance.

Caveats aside, this can only go down as a once-in-a-generation season, bedecked by some simply extraordinary players. To watch the footwork of our centre-third magicians, Evie T, Jemima B and Eilidh A, was to be visited by the ghost of Rudolf Nureyev, wistfully shaking his head and muttering “… if only I’d spent a few more hours at the barre each day”. Few parallel teams could come close to living with them. This magnificent trio, with metronomic accuracy, fed Lucinda M, the most accomplished GA these islands have ever produced, and playing all the while with the understated, menacing swagger of an early Sisters of Mercy EP, and Hannah C – just about as good a GS as it is possible to be without actually being asked to play for your country - ruthlessly clearing space in the circle for her, with coruscating, eviscerating efficiency. To play against these two must be as dispiriting as trying to hammer nails into a breeze block with the use only of a wet teabag: there is no offposition on the genius-switch. In our own defensive circle, Jess L, Charlotte C and Lily M, players possessed of so much effortless grace and composure that these traits could be seen with the naked eye from the surface of the Moon, demonstrated the ability to bend space and time to their will. ¡No pasarán! - Durruti lives.

So, what does all of this mean? In late February, a crushing defeat of Oakham, the Auld Enemy, and then to the Reichenbach Falls – Uppingham at home. 9-5 up after the first quarter, but Rutland’s finest dominated the second, clawing it back to a two-goal deficit by half-time. Then, the scoring went with the centre-passes in a Mexican standoff, and we knew that a single mistake would cost us the game. Cometh the hour, cometh a whole-team performance so solid it developed its own gravitational field, and we pulled three goals ahead. And, not fazed by the spectre of apotheosis, the Ballet of Devastation that is the 14Bs ground out a victory for the ages.

The best pound-for-pound VII in the School? CSD