MOSPS Magnificent At Hampshire County Netball Qualifier

Milford’s Yr 5-6 Jets & Rockets attended the New Forest Schools Sports Partnership’s ever-popular High 5 Netball Tournament on Monday of this week.

In direct contrast to last year’s glorious sunshine, the majority of the event was subject to good-old British drizzle, but the quality of the Netball brought real colour to such a grey day.

The Tournament began with the 16 teams in attendance playing in four Pools. The results of these mini leagues were then used to split the event into four tiers, so that the afternoon would showcase some great games between evenly matched teams.

Both the Jets and the Rockets stormed through their Pool stages, winning all of their games and scoring a hatful of goals along the way: The Jets scored an astonishing 56 Goals and conceded just 6 while the Rockets scored 28 and conceded 7.  Their sparkling performances kept the damp spectators smiling and earned both teams a place in the top tier and the chance to qualify for the County Championships next week. Rather uniquely this tier consisted of the two teams from Milford and two teams from Marchwood Junior School!

With packed-lunches eaten and energy levels topped up again, it was back to business for the afternoon’s games, which would, at some point, of course, see the Jets and the Rockets pitched against each other. It was a good job that the Netball was fast and furious and the quality of the play red-hot, as by now everyone’s kit was drizzle-drenched!

The Jets and the Rockets played quite superbly against the Marchwood A and B Teams with wins for the Jets of 6 – 2 and 15 – 0 and for the Rockets, 5 – 2 and 9 – 1.

By the end of the afternoon and a day of dazzling displays (including a  very fitting 4 – 4 Draw between the Jets and the Rockets in their match), there was no doubt that both the Jets and the Rockets had earned themselves the right to represent the New Forest in the Hampshire County Final event next week. The only question left to answer was the colour of the medals, and that would have to be decided on goal-difference.

After tallying the goals for and against, it was the Jets who were crowned New Forest Champions and the Rockets who secured second spot for a Magnificent Milford One-Two finish.

To be separated by the finest of margins was a fitting way to end an exhausting day of netball. Congratulations to both our amazing teams, and also to Marchwood A, who took third spot.

Mrs Tate and Coach Brown were very proud of the way that all of the players contributed to each game, rotating as and when required and supporting each other on and off the pitch.

A huge thank you to Coach Brown for all her hard work in training the teams – none of this would be possible without you! Thanks also to Mrs Darbyshire for managing The Rockets quite perfectly all day, and to Mrs Tate for being our staff member on-site. We would also likt to say thank you to the other parents who helped with transport and braved the drizzle to support our netballers all day!  You are all stars!!

The Hampshire Cup event takes place on Monday 27^th March – we’ll let you know how it goes!