Self-critical coach saw warning signs

PLAYER-COACH Sonia Grant-Yendell slated herself and said she feared a Jersey win from the moment they arrived on the Fort Regent courts to warm up for the annual inter-insular clash. Guernsey travelled hunting a third straight win over the old enemy, but left soundly beaten.

'With the benefit of hindsight the game was lost in the warm-up,' said Grant-Yendell.

'It was pickled with dropped balls. We were nervous,' said the Guernsey goal-shooter who added: 'I had a shocker of a game.'

Jersey dominated all but the last quarter to triumph 47-35.

'We lost both the A and B team matches last year, but this year we were totally dominant,' said Jersey coach Linda Andrews afterwards.

'To see so many youngsters in our squad looking so composed; this was the best; our win was totally deserved, she added.

Guernsey team manager, Gill Queripel, agreed with Andrews' sentiments.

'Jersey have shown us that we've got to learn to tighten up our game. At times their shooters were awesome.

'It wasn't to be this time, but it isn't all negative.

'We're at the same stage as Jersey were last year, with a new, young team, who will get better and better, as Jersey have done, over the next 12 months.

'Jersey showed that they are well coached, but these games seem to go in cycles. Fair play to them, but we'll be back.'

Grant-Yendell's viewpoint was no different.

'Jersey played excellently . . . a well-organised game and were very worthy winners.

Although ???Zola Bourgaize won the player-of-the-match award, Jersey were dominant all over the court and, in particular, the shooting circle where goal-shooter Laura Beeston and goal attack Sophie Holmes were at the top of their game.

In front of a 200-strong crowd Jersey eased their way 27-12 in front by the end of the second quarter and, despite allowing Guernsey to net 11 times to their three with just 10 minutes to go, by then the game was as good as over.

To their credit, Guernsey kept trying to come back into the match, through Bourgaize and goal- attack Kerry Brown, but Jersey are a class act and their interplay was so good at times that both Jersey and Guernsey supporters united in spontaneous applause.

The B result was much worse from a Sarnian perspective.

Guernsey were hammered 60-33 in a one-sided match which turned into the equivalent of a netballing rout.

Despite losing influential former A-team player and England triallist Mary Blampied after just four minutes with an ankle injury, the home side powered to 44-20 lead in the third quarter and, after that, never looked back.

Grant-Yendell again offered no excuses.

'They were awesome in attack and knew exactly what they were doing.'

The coach said she was pleased with the efforts of defensive duo Gemma Loveridge and Cassie Le Page who kept battling to the end, but added: 'There wasn't enough experience, depth and consistency to the senior B.'

'Hats off to Jersey. They played nice netball and hunted every ball down.'

In even more clinical fashion the Jersey under-18s won their match 50-16.

'It was pure class from start to finish,' said Andrews.

'We were so dominant, that for the first time in years I was able to give every member of the squad a game.

'Everyone, and I mean everyone, played well.'

At the other end of the age spectrum, the over-35s was also won by the home side, albeit by a tighter scoreline, 46-32, while Guernsey's solitary success came in the under-12s which they won 22-17.

Day two was no better for the visitors.

At under-14 level Jersey won 62-31, while the reds' under-15 side cruised to a 53-32 win.