Guernsey go with youth for first home ‘inters’ in five years

No fewer than seven U19 players feature in the island's A team, which has just been unveiled – alongside most other categories – ahead of the big weekend on 9 and 10 March. This will be the first home inter-insular in five years.

Senior A co-captain Donna Brehaut highlighted the inclusion of so many youngsters in the squad of 12.

‘It’s a really good sign that they are able to make the squad,’ she said.

‘It’s really important for the succession of Guernsey netball.’

Becky Chamberlain and co-captain Abby McCracken bring further experience, but the squad is otherwise made up either of U19s or inter-insular A team debutantes.

• Listen to a full interview with Guernsey head coach Sally Carns on this week’s Guernsey Press Sport Podcast

This youthful squad follows a rigorous selection process led by Guernsey Netball head coach Sally Carns.

This is Guernsey’s third major competition under the expert guidance of Carns, who had to cut down from an initial squad of 35 interested seniors.

‘Selection gave us lots of headaches and that was a good problem to have,’ the head coach said.

‘The emphasis for me was on putting out the strongest 12 on each squad, and we have that.

‘It’s the first time we’ve had too many and had to let some people know they wouldn’t be playing.’

Brehaut is familiar with the atmosphere of Carns’ training camps and the challenges faced to make the squad.

‘Everybody has worked really, really hard,’ she added.

‘There’s been a really nice morale around the camps.’

Even so, the A team will face very tough going against Jersey, who have dominated this match for nearly two decades now.

Brehaut is simply hoping to improve upon their 40-plus goal losses at last year’s away inter-insular and the Island Invitational Netball Games.

‘We’ve played Jersey twice in the last 12 months ... we have made improvements both times we have played them,’ she said.

‘Our target is to reduce the deficit and put into practice everything we have been learning in the camps under Sally’s guidance.

‘We have had a year in the programme with Sally and we have come a long way. Hopefully we can prove that the gap is closing.’

Many of Guernsey’s star seniors are now bolstering the veteran (over-30s) side, who lost by just two goals last year.

The U19s are reigning champions, and have been playing regularly in the south leagues this season, making them arguably the island’s brightest hopes of all across the weekend.

Inter-Insular schedule (all matches at Beau Sejour)

Saturday 9 March

Future Panthers exhibition match, 9am; U11s, 10am; U14s, 11am; U12s, 12.15pm; U19s, 1.30pm.

Sunday 10 March

U16s, 9.15am; Senior B, 10.45am; O30s, 12.15pm; Senior A, 1.45pm.

Guernsey squads

Senior A

Donna Brehaut (co-captain), Taylor Callanan, Becky Chamberlain, Olivia Cotterill, Tillie Graham, Viv Kemgne, Sophie Taylor, McKenzie Rich, Abby McCracken (co-captain), Vicky Yabsley, Evie Robinson, Erin Sullivan.

Senior B

Taylor Callanan, Kerys Chamberlain, Olivia Cotterill, Bryony de Garis, Charlotte Duquemin, Savannah Goddard, Abbie Greening (co-captain), Viv Kemgne, Holly Langlois (co-captain), Sophie Pontin, Erin Sullivan, Sophie Taylor.