Netball girls' shining Smile

8 May 2019 10:47
Published by: Kian French

IT was an all Stockport final in the national Smile Independent Schools' Netball Cup - with Cheadle Hulme School eventually lifting the trophy.

The under-13s squad beat rivals Stockport Grammar School 30-31 after a closely fought match held at Hertfordshire University.

To qualify for the final, the team had previously triumphed over Bedford Girls' School.

It is not the first time Cheadle Hulme School has seen Independent Schools' Netball Cup (ISNC) success.

In 2015, the under-15s won the ISNC National Cup and in 2015, the ISNC Plate was awarded to the school's under-19s team.

Olivia Barber, Cheadle Hulme School netball coach, said: "All of the players worked extremely hard throughout training and especially in the match.

"It was a tough game with both teams playing exceptionally well. The girls deserve the success and it has been a pleasure to coach them. I am very proud of the way they played and worked as a team."

Six of the ten-strong squad, including the captain, have places on the school's High-Performance Programme in sport, which is awarded to any pupil who demonstrates outstanding sporting potential.

In addition to a scholarship, they receive a mentor and a variety of specialist advice with attention given to strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, training diaries and career opportunities within sport.

The Smile National Independent Schools Netball Cup was founded in 2010/11 by former England international Justine Saunders. More than 100 teams took part in the 2018/19 knockout competition.

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