Felsted School under-14 girls reach regional round of England Netball School Nationals for first time

The under-14s have booked their place in the regional round of the England Netball School Nationals for the first time in Felsted School’s history.

They advanced from the Essex stage of the competition by showing their class in seven intense 15-minute matches at New Hall School in Boreham, near Chelmsford.

The Felsted girls secured top spot in a tricky pool before relentless pressure and vital interceptions earned them a hard-fought 11-9 victory over Southend High School in the last four.

They were unable to win the event outright as they lost to the hosts, who were the pre-tournament favourites, but reaching the final was enough to see them qualify for the next stage.

Goal attack and goal defence Freya R was named the player of the final.

“The team’s performance throughout the day was nothing short of immense,” said Lindsay Keable, Felsted’s director of netball. “The girls represented themselves, the team and the school superbly.

“This team is bursting with talent and I can’t wait to see how they perform against bigger schools from the region.”

Felsted will take on sides from Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Thurrock in the regional round at Welwyn Garden City’s Stanborough School in February.