Wrekin netball girls set to go national

The sixth-form students put in a sterling performance in the West Midlands finals at Bromsgrove School to reach the national showdown.

It's an achievement they have now clocked up three times in seven years. The Brighton event will see the top 18 schools in the country go head-to-head for the title.

Head of games Caroline Ritchie-Morgan said: "It's such a good achievement for the girls. We've got around 50 girls combined in our upper and lower sixth, whereas our rivals have hundreds.

"The fact that we're up there against Millfield from Somerset, one of the top sports schools in the country, several London schools and Greenhead College from Leeds, is a fantastic achievement.

"Greenhead have won the finals for two years running and have the pick of the crop. It's the pinnacle for schools in this country.

"Looking at the opposition I want to be realistic, but we will do the best we can.

"The competition will be two groups of nine so the girls will play eight matches in one day, it's a tough effort."

Wrekin won through in the county stage in November to square up with the best of the West Midlands at Bromsgrove.

They qualified from their group stage as runners-up before going on to beat previously unbeaten group winners Newcastle College 10-9 in the semi-final.

They lost out in a final against Sutton Coldfield school Bishop Vesey, a team they had beaten in a school match just four days prior to the tournament.

But Ritchie-Morgan's side still qualified for the Brighton showpiece alongside their Sutton Coldfield rivals.

Skipper Natasha Coleman and Lucy Asson also received good news as they were selected in the final squad of 15 for the National Performance League side.

There was also joy for Nicole Nsiah, who made the under-19 development squad.

Ritchie-Morgan, who also coaches top Shropshire outfit Tibberton – where many of her squad play – is already looking at getting the girls fit and ready for March 19.

The college are set to play warm-up matches against Bromsgrove and Repton next week in preparation for the finals.

She added: "If we get injuries then we are struggling, so it's about getting the girls fit and healthy.

"The majority of them also play for the hockey team so there is also a hockey match every week to deal with.

"There will be lots of sessions but these girls are also studying for their A-Levels.

"The captain, Natasha, is also head girl, sings in the choir and plays an instrument, so she dedicates a lot of hours.

"I have a team of dedicated coaches helping, too. Karen Bennett, who works here part-time and head of geography Laura Jones are 100 per cent committed."