Inter-insular will be GA's very last

JENNY JORDAN is looking to end her inter-insular career on a high tomorrow. The Nerine and Guernsey goal-attack is emigrating to New Zealand with husband Paul and their four children at the beginning of next year, so the match against Jersey at Fort Regent is set to be her last against the old enemy.

Therefore, she hopes that 2002's victory can be repeated and is confident that it will be.

'And also, Dawn's shooting is on form - as it always is - so I think we will be fine.

The Browning-Jordan combination is the Sarnian netball version of the highly successful Liverpool striking partnership of Keegan and Toshack in the 1970s.

The Nerine goal-shooter is a prolific scorer while her partner helps to create the opportunities while also notching up an impressive goal tally herself.

It is a shame that their alliance does not have too much longer to run.

'We have found that combination and it works, but they are going to have to make changes soon because I am moving away from the island. There will soon come a time that they are going to have to start looking for someone to take my place, but there are not many goal-attacks around.

One other enjoyable aspect of what will be her final full season is that she has been able to play alongside her twin sister, Lorna.

She admitted that having her in the same side for both club and island goads her on to better performances.

'It has been really good; it just boosts me to play with her. I think we both have the feeling that if the other has done something good at the other end of the court, then we have to match it - there is a sort of friendly competitiveness between us,' said Jordan.

'But if I do have a down period after I have played poorly, she gives me encouragement and vice versa.

'Her experience has also been helpful to the sides because she has come out with different ideas - sometimes you need an outsider. And she works well with Kerrie in defence.'

The fact that so many of the Guernsey squad members are from the league champions Nerine is not a bad thing says Jordan and she hopes that a further benefit will be coming shortly as the club attempt entry into the National Clubs League.

'Because we all play together regularly, I think it is a good thing and it will be even better if we can get into the NCL - there is a competition on 7 June to see if we can get in.

'If we could, it will definitely help to improve our game and I think it will give the other teams in the local league more of a chance, so it will work both ways.

The NCL would certainly help develop the Guernsey players' game as has been the case with the English Counties League.

Guernsey's county campaign ended last weekend with a loss to league winners Avon, but it was a superb performance from the Sarnians.

'It was a bit disappointing to lose by just three goals against the team that won the league. The nearest any other team came to them was only within 17 goals. You could tell they were shocked because we went out guns blazing, but they certainly did not play badly.

'The ECL always gives us a good run up to the inter-insular. It settles you to play those games - you don't have the nerves for the Jersey game as you would have if it was just that one representative match,' Jordan added.

So back to tomorrow's clash and Jersey will be fielding pretty much the same team that was defeated last year, but they have recently topped their division in the English Counties League so cannot be taken lightly.

'Although they won their ECL group, they do play in an easier one than we play in. We know their line-up and it is basically the same one as last year.

'Their strength is spread throughout the whole team and they do tend to be a bit more aggressive, although we are catching them up in that.

'It is always going to be a tight game because we are pretty similar, but I am confident we can win.'

For the second year running, inter-insular weekend is being held in Jersey and it was a decision that annoyed Guernsey coach Tracie Hards, but Jordan was surprisingly upbeat about it.

'I quite like playing in Jersey actually. It doesn't really bother me that we are away again because I always seem to do well over there. Maybe it is because I get some peace the night before,' she said smiling, a reference to her rather lively children, two of whom had been present at our meeting, making it all the more entertaining.