New top flight difficult to call as quartet vie for title

And after their Division One title win and superb 'Upton' triumph last season, Resolution IT are likely to begin as favourites to retain their island title.

However, the captains of all four of the female sides – 'Rezzers' are joined by Titans, Blaze and Thunder – believe it will be a wide-open race over the next seven months.

Previously, Division One included as many as 10 teams prior to a late-season split, but the Guernsey Netball Association have tried to rid the top-tier of as many one-sided games as possible.

The response has been to introduce this new Premier League with the 'big four' from last season, as well as the island men's team, whose results will not count towards the league table.

Nonetheless, men's coach Gill Queripel, who is also the GNA president, believes that her side will ruffle a few feathers in their 16 games. 'It is great practice for the men's team and they can certainly play netball, so I am certain they will win a few games during this season,' she said.

'It is also a different and very good test for the female teams, it takes them out of their comfort zones and that is desperately needed over here.

'Creating this Premier League is vital because the top players need to be playing tough, competitive netball every week and that simply was not happening before.'

The vast majority of the games will be played on Tuesdays, with a double-header each week, although the opening game between Blaze and Thunder is tonight's only game, at 8.15pm.

• More in Tuesday Guernsey Press.