Jesmond Netball Club (in purple) playing at Blue Flames

Jesmond Netball Club have started the Tyne and Wear Winter League season with a bang, and are currently tied with rivals Vixens at the top of the table. Both have 15 points, with Jesmond only behind on the number of goals scored and against.

In last year’s Winter League, Jesmond finished sixth out of the ten teams competing, and four points behind the Vixens. They won four out of their nine games played and scored 187 goals in total.

“This season we’re off to an unexpectedly great start,” says Jesmond Netball Club’s Alice Caisley. “We have definitely been playing better this season and we have to give credit to our new coach, Rachel Barr, for that.

“Rachel pushes us in training. She’s intense on the fitness but it definitely makes a difference. We sort of love and hate her whilst we’re doing fitness!”

According to Caisley, the new coach has made a particular effort to improve the team’s goal-shooters  and it seems to be having a positive effect as Jesmond are the second highest goal scorers in their division with 123 goals in just three matches.

In addition, Barr has also placed greater emphasis on keeping players in similar positions for each game with particular focus on the team’s mid-court.

Caisley also praised team captain Kate Bridges as vital to their success by keeping the team in good spirits, as well as providing direction.

“But we’re trying not to get ahead of ourselves. We’ve still got most of our matches ahead of us and there are some tough teams still to play, so who knows what will happen,” says Caisley.

Jesmond Netball Club, whose next game is tomorrow (November 7th) against Chopwell, are also keen to welcome new players as they will be entering two teams to the Spring League. You can contact them through their Facebook page. They train on Monday evenings at St Mary’s RC School on Benton Road.