Carns 'delighted' with response as island netballers kick-start season

With the Island Invitational Games in November proving a major attraction, she came over for a training camp last weekend and revealed that the numbers have been boosted further by unexpected players coming out of the woodwork.

She expects to be announcing the squad for the Island Invitational Games next weekend.

This comes as the U19 Panthers prepare for their first campaign in age-group South Division Two – starting next month.

‘Both squads are just fighting fit and really exciting to work with,’ she said.

• Hear the full interview with Sally Carns on this week's Guernsey Press Sport Podcast

Carns has recently returned from spectating at the World Cup in South Africa, where England reached the final.

She is hoping the U19s can take inspiration from that, and while she does not know quite what to expect from the southern league opposition, she has vouched for their ability as a side.

‘We knew from when they beat Jersey in the inter-insulars that they were a talented bunch, and they have been all the way through growing up through their age groups,’ she said.

‘They’re a really solid squad. The girls that have come in there through the younger age groups have really added to that.

‘Certainly the chat at training was all about the World Cup – “did you see this player?” and “did you see that player?”

‘Some of those girls are not that much older than the U19s, so it’s really, really good for us to have that visibility for our sport of elite level.’

The U19s’ first match will take place at home as they host NRG on Sunday 10 September, while the domestic leagues are set to begin the following week.

Amy Fallaize, meanwhile, has stepped down as netball development officer after two years in the role.

The Guernsey Netball Association are currently recruiting for a replacement.