As the U21 players return home from a tough 13 day tour in Australia, it is clear that the cogs are already in motion for next year’s Championships taking place in the Cook Islands.
The 11 games played saw progressively improved performances and score lines from the England team, proving encouraging for next years’ World Youth Championships. Despite the physical and gruelling demands of the tour, the players returned home injury-free and fighting fit for the season ahead. It was evident that having a strength and conditioning coach at their disposal working alongside the Coaching and other support staff was indispensable.
The first game v New Zealand created 72 opportunities at goal, 12 more than the opposition, demonstrating that the England team is capable of creating chances and ball turnover, although they will now have to work on their conversion.
Some of the best displays of technical ability came against the Australian National Squad, ranked as the best team in the world. Despite facing heavy defeats the England U21’s showed they had the capability to play against the best. This was proven when the U21 turned the ball over 12 times in the first quarter of the second game against them. After the game Australian National Coach, Norma Plummer, said: “The current team are best group of youngsters I’ve seen come through the ranks in England for a long time.”
Jointly leading England’s U21’s campaign for the World Youth Championships co-coach, Jess Garland, said: “The Australian and New Zealand teams were impressive and we know we have to work hard to beat them next year. However, the England team did show a formidable range and depth both physically and technically throughout the tour. We didn’t go to Australia to learn how to play like them but to learn how to combat the way they play and take our own style and diversity to them.
“We played well and have come away with a lot to reflect on. Key areas to develop are overall consistency across the board especially in our shooting and taking possession to goal. Australia is a strong team but we often had equal possession of the ball. We also saw a huge improvement against New Zealand from game one to game two – this should send both opposing teams home with a strong warning that our team is biting at their heels.”
England just narrowly missed winning their second game against New Zealand by four goals, having been up at half time.
One of the players, Serena Guthrie, said that winning was just one of the objectives but many of the others were achieved.
She said: “It was a privilege to take part in the tour, which was a new experience for most of us; only three of the players had ever travelled that far before, let alone play against teams of such high calibre.
“As a team we realised that there are many ways of winning, it’s not just about the score. The team now feels more motivated than ever about the next stage and we really believe we can go all the way.”
England Netball now hope the defeats they experienced in Australia will take them in the same direction as in the build up to the 2005 Florida Championships, in which the England team experienced a similarly tough tour Down Under 12 months prior to the main event. That tour subsequently
proved to be a fundamental building block in their success of achieving silver.
Anna Mayes, U21 co-coach, added: “We are ready for the battle. The England U21 team should not be underestimated.”
Eight full matches and three short games were played against the following:
1. England v AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) Score: 28-55
2. England v Australian National Squad Score: 25-75
3. England v Australian National Squad Score: 21-70
4. England v New Zealand U21 Score: 36-51
5. England v New Zealand U21 Score: 43-47
6. England v Queensland ANL Team Score 34-51
7. England v Queensland ANL Team Score: 35-41
8. England v Australian U21 Score: 22-63
Round Robin
9. (15mins) England v Queensland ANL
10. (15mins) England v Australian U21
11. (15mins) England v New Zealand U21
