Nerine face another 'Upton' without inspirational coach

ENGLAND trials have once again deprived Nerine of their coach and some players going into the netball 'Upton'. Gill Queripel has not seen her perennial Guernsey champions take on their Jersey counterparts for a few years now because the fixture clashes with her taking some of the island's outstanding prospects to potential camp.

So, rather than being on the sideline at FB Fields tomorrow afternoon when her side meet Convent A, she will be in Aldershot along with Kerri Brown, Lyndsey Bougourd and Amy Wright - all of whom would have been at least in consideration for a place on the bench.

And to make matters worse, Naomi Taylor is missing after picking up an ankle injury while playing recently in the Inter County Tournament while fellow Guernsey player Lois Batiste is also absent because she is pregnant.

However, Queripel is typically upbeat.

'As usual, it is bad timing for us,' she said.

'But this is still probably the strongest side we have had out in an Upton because we usually have a lot of people away.

'It is a good squad but we have got a very small bench because the girls who are away with me would have been involved.

'Hopefully, the girls will put in a good performance and I will be on the end of a telephone finding out how they are getting on.'

Convent, a team packed with Jersey players, will provide a stern test.

They have just regained the title across the water following a 57-7 victory over their B side in the final game of the season.

Guernsey will be represented by P&J Conservatories and JT Electrics in the Division Two and Three 'Uptons' respectively.