Guernsey defends itself over reason for change

CHANGES to the 2008 netball inter-insular schedule have not all gone down well in Jersey. Guernsey, it's claimed, were unwilling to field teams in the same age-groups as Jersey.

But, local development officer Gill Queripel, has defended her association's policy, saying that the age-group changes fall into line with UK competitions.

'We've gone down the same line as All-England and all our competitions in the south region are based on those age-groups.'

The matches are scheduled for Fort Regent in March and having sent the schedules across to the Guernsey Netball Association, the response Jersey received led to the under-13, under-15 and under-18 games being changed to under-12, under-14, under-16 and, most contentiously in the sister isle, under-19.

'The GNA had a committee meeting after we sent the schedules and came back to us saying they weren't going to put in U13 or U15 sides and wanted it to be U12, U14, U16,' said JNA president Jackie Nelson.

'We agreed to that, but we didn't want to change the under-18 to 19s as we don't have any of our players at that age group, they have all gone to university. All the girls who played under-18s last year are away.

'We've had to give in though as Guernsey are saying they cannot field an under-18 side. It was either that or our youngsters at that level don't get an inter-insular.

'It's a highlight of any netballer's season, to play for their Island, so for the good of our players we've conceded.

'It seems crazy though as we dropped the under-21s match four or five years ago because we had no players with everyone at university.

'We were having to field an under-18 team in their age group match and then field the same team at under-21s. Our only option was either the girls play against an older age group or there was going to be no game.'

A report in the Jersey Evening Post states that due to the change the sister island's junior Island coaches will now have to decide whether to invite players to return to the island for the fixture.

'Guernsey's biggest argument for changing to under-19s is that it is what the All England Netball Association are doing,' added Nelson.

'But England are going to under-19s with clubs - and Jersey and Guernsey are not clubs.

'The inter-insulars are completely different, it's not club netball it's island netball which has no connection to the AENA.

'There is only one event which is under-19s, and it was held recently in England, and Guernsey didn't even enter.'

Queripel, though, says the Sarnians do play as a team at that level.

'We have a team in the south-east under-16 league and a team in the south region under-19 league.'

'With regards the younger age groups, Guernsey don't have anyone taking responsibility of netball in secondary schools like Jersey has the JSSSA, so the GNA have taken these age groups on and they wanted this change.

'Obviously while the under-13 and under-15 games can't be played on the same inter-insular weekend, we are hoping that the situation will be remedied so the schools can sort something out enabling these youngsters who have missed out to still have their inter insular at some point.

'We would hate for it to go the same way the under-11s went six years ago when Guernsey couldn't field a side. It's a huge disappointment to these girls every year to have to tell them there isn't an inter-insular for them to compete in.'

Queripel said: 'Historically we've had games at 12,, 14, 16 and 18 but we felt there weas no need for games at 13s and 15s because there is nothing for them nationally.'