Hornsea School and Language College’s U15 netball squad are now finalists in the Sisters n Sport National Netball U15 Shield for Schools, with the grand final set to take place on March 13 at Loughborough University.
From the outset, this match against Bishop Heber, who had travelled all the way from Cheshire, was going to be our toughest yet. Reaching this stage of the competition was a remarkable achievement in itself, but the girls had their eyes on the prize. Game day was here, with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. A few faces were noticeably pale.
Securing the first centre pass was a positive start, but a missed opening goal seemed to knock their confidence. The team looked uncharacteristically hesitant, a shadow of their usual selves. The opposition capitalised, displaying a rock-solid defence and a lightning-fast attack. Every pass was contested, every rebound a fight. The first quarter ended with a concerning 11-6 to the away team.
Going into the second quarter, we needed to find a way to break through their defence and regain our composure. The physicality intensified, with neither team giving an inch. The away team continued to apply pressure, extending their lead to a daunting 20-10 by half-time.
Halftime was a moment for reflection, a chance to regroup and reignite the fire within. We reminded the girls of their strengths, urging them to dig deep and fight for every goal. And fight they did. They began to chip away at the lead, narrowing the gap to 20-24, displaying the athletic, determined netball we knew they were capable of.
Into the final quarter, the last chance to regroup. The message was clear: enjoy the experience—this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The game resumed, and still, the away team held the advantage. They’d come this far; they weren’t going down without a fight. Despite their best efforts, acceptance began to settle in – an incredible run, but perhaps not enough.
Then, in the final four minutes (or was it three? At this point, it was all a blur), everything changed. A shift in momentum, a surge of energy, a collective will to win. The girls couldn’t believe it. We couldn’t believe it. They levelled the score: 30-30 with just seconds remaining…
Erin, in a moment of pure brilliance, scored the golden goal! 31-30 to Hornsea! Back to our centre pass. Could they hold on? Could they score just one more time? A lost ball off the back line, the away team in possession. The final countdown began. The leisure centre erupted! They had done it! They had pulled off the impossible!
Resilience, teamwork, sportsmanship – they had it all. Pure magic!
A huge thank you to everyone for their support with the team throughout this incredible journey. We are so proud of them for finally believing in themselves and achieving this well-deserved win.
Now, on to the final at Loughborough University!