Only two remain from 2019 Senior A team
GUERNSEY will be calling on plenty of young blood for their long-awaited return to inter-insular action next week.
The island’s top players in various age groups are travelling to face Jersey’s best across the weekend of 4 and 5 March, having endured a challenging of four years since the last edition.
But that lengthy downtime has allowed several youngsters to develop through the domestic Premier Division, resulting in a new-look Senior A squad packed with up-and-coming players.
Guernsey Netball Association participation director and inter-insular joint organiser Anna Trump can only see that as a positive.
‘I think this is a demonstration of how much stronger the Prem has got over the last couple years, and the dedication of those girls too,’ she said.
‘They are so hungry for play and for coaching.’
In fact, captain Donna Brehaut and Amy Fallaize are the only players who feature in both the 2019 and 2023 Senior A squads.
Abby McCracken, Anais Flatres and Becky Chamberlain also bring experience to the squad, but the remainder are relatively new to the fold.
‘It’s great for Sally [Carns, new head coach] that she has got some future talent as well as some experience,’ Trump added.
Jersey clearly have history in their favour for that Senior A contest, where they will be shooting for a 15th straight victory.
But Guernsey will be on title defence duties for the Senior B and veterans’ matches, the latter of which carries a family theme with two pairs of sisters and a mother-daughter combination.
Eight matches are on the cards, with two U11 teams, U12s, U14s and U19s also in action.
The U16s miss out due to an unfortunate south league clash.
Trump views the fielding of two different U11 teams – A and B – as a sign of a thriving junior and Future Panthers set-up.
‘We have got loads of really interested, excited and engaged players... how impressive is it that we can field two squads?' she said.
Schedule
(Matches in Jersey)
Saturday 4 March: U11B (9.30am), O30 (10.30am), U14 (12.15pm); U11A (1.45pm); Senior B (3pm).
Sunday 5 March: U12 (10.30am); U19 (noon); Senior A (2pm).
Guernsey squads
U11: Amity Horton, Charlotte Mullins, Lily Griffiths-Ali, Lily Ward, Madeleine Quinn, Rumbi Dengura, Scarlett Jager, Sienna Ayres, Sophia Bailey, Caitlin Ward, Chloe Fallaize, Ella Gallienne, Emily Crabtree, Evelyn Saunders, Isabelle Grayland, Jeanie Little, Lacey-Mai Gower, Phoebe Harradine, Poppy Watson.
U12: Ellie Roger, Evie Banks, Gracie Guille, Holly Lavin, Jane van der Watt, Macie Elliott, Megan Carter, Millie Burchell, Olivia Stanbury, Sky Grant.
U14: Addison Hale, Amelia Roberts, Ava Kelling, Ella Burchell (C), Elle Harris, Elysia de la Mare, Gizelle Jones, Iren Heaume, Lara Gaveym Matilda Bachmann, Sophie Elliott (VC), Sophie Jehan. Playing partners: Phoebe Copperwaite, Charlotte Tallon, Evie Bellis, Macy Le Vallee.
U19: Charlotte Duquemin, Erin Sullivan (C), Evie McGall (VC), Elle Harris, Fabienne Carpentier, Harriet Savident, Hattie Clayton, Olivia Cotterill, Sophie Taylor, Taylor Callanan, Vicky Yabsley.
Senior B: Erin Sullivan, Evie McGall, Evie Robinson, Hattie Clayton, Mariska Hattingh, Megan Wyatt-Nicolle, Savannah Goddard (C) Sophie Browning (VC), Sophie Taylor, Viviane Kemgne, Zola Saunders.
Senior A: Abby McCracken, Amy Fallaize, Anais Flatres, Becky Chamberlain (VC), Bryony de Garis, Donna Brehaut (C), Harriet Savident, Megan Wyatt-Nicolle, Olivia Cotterill, Rose Haysom, Vicky Yabsley.
Over 30s: Anna Trump, Hayley Brehaut, Holly Meagher, Kerri Brown, Kim Le Lacheur, Kristy Webber, Kyra Butcher, Lois Batiste (VC), Lorna Brown (C), Nena Copperwaite, Zola Saunders.
