It feels like forever since our young year 6’s grew from netball caterpillars into year 7 butterflies and with that came so much change… new schools for most, a summer netball camp to remember and a leap into the new year 7-8 junior leagues.

For those playing catch-up the years 7-8 league sees the removal of the forced player position rotations and increases game time to 10 minutes a quarter…. Doubling the time on court the girls are used to.
On top of so much change we were so pleased to have a positive influx of new Tigers at this age group, we find a complete re-shuffle of players and teams creating a huge milestone for the club.

This years mini-league in the Beds & District Netball league finds Tiger placing two teams in with the aim to use it to bond the new players and a great opportunity to get some game time under their belts and experiment with player positions.

Last weekend so the hectic event of the ‘grading tournament’. What an eye opener for our teams as they stepped onto the court to play 7 short games to determine which league they would take part in. It was clear, in this sneak peak into what to expect was that many of the teams we will be facing were already well formed, that have come through the ranks together and are well drilled and organised.
We knew it was going to be tough, two new teams, new players and only a couple of weeks of pre-season …and that came to a reality with both teams being on the end of heavy defeats.

Roses, winning 1 out of 7 and Saffrons winning 2 out of 7.

Despite some of the results, this is a project, the making of a really great group of girls and early shoots of some good netball and we still left a little bruised but in good spirits.

BEDFORD TIGERS ROSES VS GALAXY PROSTARS
Here we go again ….a new Tigers playlist, music, fun and netball! What else would you prefer to be doing with your Sundays?
Drawn into the 4th division was what anybody hoped for but this is a building season.
New players welcome into the fold this season to the newly formed Roses are natural defenders A GOODCHILD and S PUNNETT. Accurate shooters in J DHILLON and E GEE. Play makers D GREEN and A BANKOLE.

The first game of the season turned out to be a forgiving one, one which was well received and needed after an eye opener of a grading tournament. It wasn’t a full gone conclusion as they had clearly a game plan, a tiny but dynamic centre and a number of tall and useful girls moving about the court. Following a weekend of playing together, the partnerships were growing though within the Tigers and the Roses dominated throughout each quarter, having L HABERSHON back with her critical finishing allowed for an early lead.
With goals coming across the court in the end from E AYLING, P TOMKINSON and M LEWIS. We also had debut goals in the league but the cool calm and collected J DHILLON.
It wasn’t just going forward, the aim was no concede and our captain O PYECROFT led the defence to lock down our own post.
Despite the valiant effort from PROSTARS 21 goals went past the Galaxy team across the for quarters with no response.

Final Score - BEDFORD TIGERS ROSES 21 GALAXY PROSTARS 0

COACHES PLAYER - M LEWIS who took on every piece of pre match coaching with good hands, key passing and movement through the court. Well done

BEDFORD TIGERS SAFFRONS VS CRANFIELD TROJANS
Taking two wins in the grading tournament found the Saffrons drawn into division 3 and would take on some difficult competition. The first of such was a well known strong side in the Trojans.
New signings to the Saffrons this season finds L AITCHISON and tall and rangey all-rounder, equally with S BLUMA who joins from last years 7 & 8’s team. Taking her first steps onto court is J IZEDONMWEN who appears to be a great defensive asset and on top of all that two young and promising talents playing up an age group in play maker and shooter L MORRIS and dynamic and strong defender in G PARKINSON.

With a real promising mix of talent, there is opportunities galore but drawn against an organised Cranfield side was a little too soon for it all to click. The Trojans have clearly been playing together for a while and it showed and the goals started to come. Saffrons, despite the score were not dominated on the court and were in the game through the mid court areas but there was that organisation that too often found their clinical finishers which stretched their lead.
The highlights to take away was the spirit of the team and every quarter players gave their all, taking goals right until the final whistle … there were glimpses of what is to come, with isolated patches of slick passing e front to back. New positions to think about for players who shined, L AITCHINSON strengthening the defence and solid debut from J IZEDONMWEN as GK.

Final Score - BEDFORD TIGERS SAFFRONS 3 CRANFIELD TROJANS 19

COACHES PLAYER - E HIGGENS for the sheer effort around the court, both defensively and in attack, she ran her socks off!

We build and grow! Bring on next week.