Bedford Tigers Sapphires have won the Bedford & District Junior Division 2 league.

At the first time of asking, the newly formed Sapphires make a huge transformation and go unbeaten in a entire season. A stark contrast to the previous season where they were scrapping around to get a full team out and wins were hard to come by.

The outcome went down to the final week of the season as the Sapphires were pushed to the wire but a strong, experienced and resilient BCNC Rubies who’s only losses came at the hands of the Tigers and who went about their other business beaten each of the teams that came in their way convincingly.
This left a final weekend of netball with Tigers needing one win out of two to claim the division two trophy (plus a series of eventualities and combinations that had played out and prepped for …just in case). Ultimately the league was in their own hands!

This weekend was a warm one for the decider but the girls were back to full strength seeing the return of HABERSHON, L to the side was a welcomed sight.

I can tell you now … I was nervous.. genuinely nervous… and as you will now know, not just about the results and fixtures ahead but wanting the conclusion of the season to be finished off just right and planning for the right and well deserved celebrations.

The girls. Not a nerve between them. Smiles, calm, collected and just another game which they have all grown to love and have all grown to love doing it together. They fully knew the possibilities of the what a win would mean this week but for them, it would just be an added bonus to the game they love playing!

MAULDEN BOBCATS VS BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES
I knew I was looking into things too much when I was concerned to see our first game had two BCNC’s umpires scheduled….stop being crazy!
To top it off, kick-off was delayed as one of the officials was late to court.
Things soon settled down with the girls stretching our a 4-0 advantage in the first half with AYLING, G coming into her own and notching 3 on the bounce of some of the most composed goals seen this season. Even the opposition support were commenting on ‘look at that little one, she is so good in front of goal’.
Again, it was pleasing to see training come out onto the pitch where much of the advantage was had through quick, early ball and a proud moment seeing the aggression from our other tiny star, MAHWING, N as she wrestled the ball with a screwed up face away from a opposing Bobcat.
The last quarter saw a fight back from a resilient Maulden side, grabbing themselves two goals consecutively but goals from HIGGINS, E and the queen of the long range efforts coming from LEWIS, M helped ease the Tigers to a 6-2 victory. Tigers saw out the game with some smart play transferred from the training court, LYNCH, D making a couple of good decision to receive the ball out the D, keep possession to allow attackers in better shooting positions.

MAHWING, N got the handshake from the Maulden girls …and that was it, technically we had done it. It didn’t matter about the next result we had won the league!

Final Score - Maulden Bobcats 2 Bedford Tigers Sapphires 6

BEDFORD TIGERS SAPPHIRES VS SHEFFORD STARS
The thought of taking it easier was never on the minds of our determined ladies, proud to hear they wanted to fight to the end, retain that unbeaten run!
That being said, maybe it was sub-conscious but Sapphires had one of their less impressive games, certainly as the first half unfolded. Despite taking an early 3 goal lead with our two top goal scorers, HABERSHON, L and HIGGINS, E getting onto the scoresheet, Shefford were quick to respond bringing it back to 3-3 and at times defensively we looked like we were thinking about that trophy a little too much maybe! It didn’t help that The Stars had a solid attacking pairing of cool shooters in rotation who capitalised every time they got into the D.
Shefford take the lead for the first time in the game after the break and looked the better side for large portions of the match, it felt like our run may come to an end BUT these girls have a tradition of waiting until the very end to turn it on and we have had more matches then I can care to remember this season where they have pushed it (and my nerves) right until the final whistle.
A strange delay to the last quarter as the other team and coaches challenged the rotations of the positions… very peculiar!! But as we have done all season, followed the rules to the letter, played as a team, player together and the result came our way with goals from AYLING, E and PYECROFT, O help see the game out.

Final Score - Bedford Tigers Sapphires 7 Shefford Stars 4
Star Player - LYNCH, D
For her all around play in every position, her extra effort and energy around the court this week and working until the final whistle.

…. And the rest is history … and it really was… I’m hoping memories the girls will not forget, inspiration coming from those stand-out celebrations as a boy and togetherness for my club that I still hold onto today. Life is often a bit rough. Successes do not always come that easy and by the bucketful. It’s important to saviour these moments … and that we did … in the form of music, dancing, ice-creams, banners, champagne (non alcoholic Karen… relax!) and my favourite thing, simply the gathering of everyone who was with us on the journey and helped make it the amazing experience it was. Player, parents, coaches all defending on Court 1 across Jades and Sapphires to celebrate a club success. The smiles on the faces was more then enough! (Well maybe not on Vicki’s face when she got covered in fizz but I’m sure she will get her own back)

It felt a bit like we were bucking the trend in netball, like it wasn’t the done thing to celebrate wins (respectfully of course, as we waited and allowed all the teams to leave the area) but here’s to pushing boundaries, enjoying the moment and dragging the sport of Netball with us!
I hope we get the chance to keep pushing those boundaries in the future.

What a few months! It just wouldn’t of been the same without all the love and support the girls get from outside that cage… you guys are their extra player.

Tigers for the Win!