Bancroft's secure national date (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Bancroft's School's Under-19 netballers reach national finals

12:56pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Football

Despite suffering a number of injuries, Bancroft's School’s Under-19 netball team made it through to the final of the National Schools’ Netball Tournament.

With only nine fit players in their squad, the team knew they were all going to have to perform well to make it through to the national finals.

They made the perfect start by defeating St Helen’s 9-7 and then came out on top in a high-tempo game against Benenden in which the final score was 17-15.

A 10-7 win over Coloma Girls followed but Bancroft’s momentum was halted after losing 12-11 against Lady Eleanor Holles.

The girls recovered to beat Kings before the final match of the day saw Bancroft face their old rivals Barking Abbey.

Thanks to a surprise Guildford victory over Lady Eleanor Holles, Bancroft knew that progress to the national finals was still within their grasp and the side needed just one point to qualify as silver medalists.

With Abbey's solid defence and efficient scoring, the girls knew it would be a difficult challenge.

As expected it was a tough game and, although Bancroft’s lost the match, the 13-8 score gave them the much needed point. The Woodford Green school had three teams competing to reach the national finals but the Under-16s and Under-14s failed to qualify, finishing in sixth and fifth place respectively.

The national finals are on March 17 in Basildon, and Bancroft join Barking Abbey as the best schools’ Under-19 netball teams in London and the South East. Both teams are hoping to repeat last year’s success when Barking Abbey emerged as national champions and Bancroft’s took the bronze medals.