Taylor makes the grade for English team

NAOMI TAYLOR has been picked for the English Universities team. 'I'm really happy,' said the 21-year-old Sarnian.

'It was all a bit last-minute. I found out about the trials the week before.'

Taylor is a sport performance student at Bath University and is a regular member of their highly successful netball team.

The 21-year-old Sarnian recently attended trials for the national student team that were held in Bath.

Each university can send five players along for selection.

All five of Bath's netballers made it into the final 12.

Taylor was selected for the British Universities' 20-player squad last year but did not feature in any games.

The Sarnian is a defensive specialist who can play at centre, wing defence and goal defence, which is her favourite position.

The English team are set to play a practice game against the Wales under-21 side in the new year before going to the British University Games in Edinburgh in April.

While her university side are topping the Busa Premier South Division, Celtic Dragons, her Super League team, are not doing so well.

The Cardiff-based outfit are currently bottom of the national league that is regularly covered by Sky Sports, having lost five out of five.

'We've not won yet but we're a young side and we've had some really good performances,' Taylor said.

The island's netball development officer, Gill Queripel, was delighted with Taylor's achievement.

'Good for Naomi, she deserves it,' said Queripel. 'She's worked really, really hard and she's stuck to it. I'm very pleased for her.'