They overcame St Brelade A 52-47 in the second-tier match on Jersey soil, where Premier side Specsavers Lightning Strike fell 76-38 to the mighty Convent A as Division Two’s Rathbones Navy suffered a tighter 37-29 loss against Accies E.
Winter League Premier Division runners-up Specsavers Lightning Strike embraced the opportunity to play at Langford in place of Resolution IT Green, who had won the official title but passed on their spot due to being unable to field a side.
The Uptons did not go ahead in 2023, when Lightning won the league title, and so predecessors’ Titans appearance in 2017 was their last comparable outing.
Strike’s own availability issues led to them bringing in Grace Phillips, Georgie Parfit and Emelia Mullins from their lower teams and they also welcomed the renewed availability of Amy Le Tocq after university.
They knew it would be tough going against a Convent A team fuelled by numerous Jersey Jets players, so they aimed simply to hit half of Convent’s score.
Lightning stunned by going 3-0 up in the opening exchanges.
But they could not maintain that momentum against a Jets side with a 6ft player on either end – with GS Emily Green helping coach Jets and GK Florence Allo showing her worth in Team Bath’s junior set-up – and plenty of talent between.
Donna Brehaut and Steph Batiste’s moving shooter rotation had been put to the test by Convent’s excellent defence, but they made good use of their opportunities.
This came on top of tireless work from Parfit and Kerys Chamberlain in the defensive circle, plus Charlotte Hill at C, as their team stayed in and around the half-score mark.
Jets captain Rosie Tonner went into WA at half-time and then the shooting circle and was excellent, helping fire her team to a convincing victory.
Lightning captain Brehaut showed gratitude to Rezzers for the opportunity and noted the importance of Guernsey representation to keep the inter-island relationship going.
‘We knew the game would be tough with many Jets playing,’ she said.
‘However, we reached the target we had in mind, which was to half their score, and took away so many positives.
‘We really enjoyed the match and experience and we did not think the scoreline entirely reflected the game – it felt at times a lot closer.
‘Full credit to Convent. They were well-drilled and very fluid down court and are used to playing at a very high standard.’
In contrast, Steels led with each quarter of their match at Oakfield, using what they had learned in winning a competitive Division One.
Player-coach Kyra-lea Butcher had to credit the efforts of all involved in her tight-knit squad of 10.
‘The girls gave their all and that’s all you want as a coach when it matters,’ she said.
‘I am over the moon for all involved and we finish our season of Winter League netball on a high.’
Butcher’s side will miss this weekend’s Cup finals after being scalped in the first play-off round, but their determination and teamwork made them more than a match for Jersey’s unbeaten divisional champions.
This included 17-year-old Izzy Robilliard playing a full game at WD with strength and confidence, having only joined the team at the start of the season.
She formed a strong defensive trio with GD Phoenix Blackwood and GK Butcher.
The Sarnians led by four goals at half time and maintained a lead through to the end, with arguably the star turn coming from Gemma Roberts, who ruled the court at GA with outstanding shooting and impressive gameplay on and off the ball.
Going in as nearly-unbeaten champions of Division Two, junior team Rathbones put up a good fight against a similarly youthful squad of Jersey counterparts at Langford.
But they lost out by eight points to a strong performance from the home team.
The focus now turns to the Winter League’s Cup finals at Beau Sejour on Sunday, culminating in the Premier Division showdown between Rezzers Green and Lightning Strike at 2.30pm.
