Borders 42

Glasgow 51

A TOTAL of 18 Under 17 District netball squads from Orkney to Borders and Dumfries started off on their journey last September, with a tournament to determine the top six teams to play in the elite Performance League, with the remainder in the Development League.

Borders U17s, comprising nine players from Peebles Netball and one from Gala Tempest, won their qualifying section to secure a place in the elite league.

Full game play-offs ensued over the season, with hard fought for victories for Borders over Edinburgh, Aberdeen and East Renfrewshire, resulting in a place in the Performance League final against Glasgow A.

The final was played in the Oriam in Edinburgh, with Glasgow taking the lead early on, but Borders clawing back over the 60 minutes of high powered play.

Indeed, Borders took the final quarter by 17 goals to 9, displaying their characteristic fitness, and forcing Glasgow into making last minute substitutions in an attempt to stem Borders’ flow.

However, after the full 60 minutes it was Glasgow who secured overall victory but by only 9 goals to the strong Borders squad. Second place in the Performance League is one of the top performances ever produced by Borders players and is a remarkable achievement for the rural netballing community in the Borders.

Inter District Results

Pool matches

Borders 22-13 Glasgow B

Borders 18-12 Edinburgh A

Borders 20-13 Perth

Borders 25-11 Ayrshire

Semi-final

Borders 19-20 South Lanarkshire

Borders U17 District netball squad completed their tremendous season with a semi-final place in the Scottish Inter-District Championships in Dundee at the weekend. And Borders were unlucky to miss out on a final place against Glasgow A by only one goal in the closing minutes of the match against South Lanarkshire. A win would have led to a repeat of their Performance League final.

Glasgow A went on to win the overall championship tournament, however, Borders came away once again having demonstrated their prowess as a top netballing District.

Trials for next season’s U17 and U15 District squads are open to all players across the Borders and details will be announced soon.

Borders U17s: Rianna Sterricks (Capt), Jess Wodehouse (Vice Capt), Emma Raeburn, Ellie O’Hara, Emma Saxon, Lucy Gray, Lucy Sked, Sophie Walpole, (all Peebles Netball), Caris Brus (Gala Tempest). Missing from championships Anna McGorum (Peebles Netball).