Junior Netball League

JNL 2008

The Third annual Redditch Junior Netball League started back in April  at the new venue Kingsley Sports Centre and ran for 10 weeks finishing in July. Over the ten week period, over 70 young people took part in organised competition against each other. Players were split into two age categories depending on their school year. Years 4 – 6 played in one competition and years 7 – 9 in the other. All the players in the 4 -6 age group were split into 6 teams to represent for the duration of the competition. Teams represented were; Palace Parrots, Arrow Aztecs, Halford Herons, Bordesley Bluebirds, Enfield Eagles and Redditch Robins. In the 7 - 9 age group 4 new teams were represented, Kingsley Kingfishers, Forge Falcons, Ipsley Ospreys and Beoley Blackbirds. Players had the chance to win two pieces of silverware. The ‘League Trophy’ was up for grabs in the first 5 weeks followed by the ‘Tournament Trophy’ in the final 5 weeks. The netball played throughout the weeks was excellent. A lot of the players in the younger age group were beginners and the improvement shown was staggering. Enfield Eagles were the eventual winners of the League Trophy  not losing a game in the process .Bordesley Bluebirds just piped Arrow Aztecs to second place

The 7 - 11 age group turned into a 2 horse race between Kingsley Kingfishers and Forge Falcons. Both teams took points off each other but Kingsley Kingfishers slipped up at the last hurdle allowing Forge Falcons to take the title

Forge Falcons (Left) and Enfield Eagles (Right) League Trophy Winners

Bordesley Bluebirds had the chance to make amends for their second place finish in the 4 - 6 age group by winning the Tournament Trophy. The tournament was very close between both the Eagles and the Bluebirds but it was Bordesley Bluebirds who clinched the trophy this time by just 1 point

The 7 - 9 age group started off quite tight with Ipsley Ospreys starting quite strong after their 4th place finish last competition. The Falcons also started strong but teams were all taking points off each other. The eventual winners were crowned in the final week with Forge Falcons again proving too strong for their opposition and collecting their second trophy of the competition.

Finally it was the chance for the parents against coaches game. The coaches won the game in 2007 making the competition all square with the parents winning in 2006. this years game saw the coaches start strong scoring at every opportunity but after the half time break the parents turned on the pressure and managed to pull some goals back. The coaches held out though making the competition 2 -1 to the coaches.

Bordesley Bluebirds Tournament Trophy Winners