Turnford and Leeds Athletic triumph

Turnford went one better than last year to win the 2024 U16 National Club Finals in Sunderland, while Leeds Athletic overcame 2023 champions Kingsway Power in a thrilling U14 final in Sheffield.

PHOTOS BY MORGAN HARLOW

UNDER 16s

Turnford were crowned champions of the 2024 U16 National Clubs Finals, in association with the British Army.

The East regional winners, coached by London Pulse’s Sam Bird, enjoyed an unbeaten weekend at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland.

Laying down a marker on day one, Turnford recorded a commanding 37-11 victory over Chevrons before a dominant 39-12 win against Kent County.

Boasting some of England’s Europe Netball U17 Championship winners in their ranks, they continued to assert their dominance in the second stage of the competition.

They made it four from four on day one, running out 40-15 winners against Ryland before overcoming Grangetown 29-19, and they carried that momentum into day two with wins over eventual bronze medal winners Kingsway Power (32-20) and Eagles Netball Club (23-17).

Runners-up in 2023, Turnford were determined to go one better and get their hands on the top prize this year, and they set up a final showdown with Oldham.

After two narrow opening-round defeats (37-28 to Eagles and 32-30 to Oaksway), North West regional winners Oldham didn’t let their heads drop as they sought to improve on last year’s third-place finish.

In the second stage, they showed their strength with back-to-back victories over AP Saints (4227) and Sutton Town (46-23) to see them into the group playing for first to sixth.

Gilbert MVP Issy Read

Beating Weston Park Blades (38-21) and losing to Poole (31-32) in a group to decide who would contest the final as well as the third-place play-off, they topped the group by virtue of their superior goal average after each team had one win to their name.

The stage was set and with vocal backing for both teams, the atmosphere was electric as Turnford made it a clean sweep, triumphing 33–27.

In the third-place play-off, Kingsway Power edged a closely fought contest with Poole 27-26.

At the presentation ceremony, Kingsway Power’s Issy Read was named the Gilbert Most Valuable Player, as selected by Roses Pathway Head Coach Sonia Mkoloma.

The wing defence / goal defence / goal keeper, who helped Manchester Thunder to the U17 North title in the NPL competition, impressed everyone with her performances throughout the weekend.

UNDER 14s

Meanwhile in the U14 National Clubs Finals at the EIS Sheffield, Leeds Athletic lifted the trophy after a 26-21 victory over 2023 champions Kingsway Power.

Fans at the venue and watching via englandnetball.tv with commentary from Lucy Goodman, witnessed the best up-andcoming young netballers from the top 18 teams across the country go head-to-head.

Of the teams that played in the 2023 National Finals, 13 returned for this year’s competition and were joined by CD Phoenix, Essex Open, Herts Dynamos, Royals Netball Club and Stratford Thunderbirds.

As defending champions, Kingsway Power came into the competition with a target on their backs, but they started strongly with back-toback opening-stage victories over CD Phoenix (32-25) and Oaksway (34-20).

There was no stopping the North West team in the second stage either as they finished day one with a 100% record (winning 32-20 against Herts Dynamos and 46-4 versus Bath Cougars).

They picked up where they left off in the opening game of day two, handing Turnford their first defeat of the competition (30-20), and then drew 19-19 in a dramatic draw with Sutton Town.

PHOTOS BY FLYNN DUGGAN

After Sutton Town drew with Turnford, one win and one draw was enough to see Kingsway Power through to the final.

After finishing seventh in the 2023 event, Leeds Athletic showed they meant business with a 15-goal victory over Herts Dynamos (29-14) followed by a tighter 23-17 win against Starz.

The Yorkshire and Humberside-based team made it four from four on the Saturday, running out winners against Charnwood Rutland Warriors (44-12) and Oaksway (31-15), and recording the third-highest goal average of the stage in the process.

Coming up against Oldham and CD Phoenix for a place in the final, they edged the North West side 28-21 and the South newcomers for 2024 32-16 to set up a tantalising match-up with Kingsway Power.

In the final, both teams gave their all as they sought to get their name engraved on the trophy. And roared on by a lively crowd, it was Leeds Athletic who beat the reigning champions 21-26.

In the third-place play-off, Sutton Town, who had finished 13th in 2023, took home a brilliant bronze medal after a 24-18 victory over last year’s third-placed side Oldham.

First introduced last year, the U14 National Club Final MVP Award was handed out once again for the best player of the tournament. After a series of impressive displays in the shooting circle over the weekend, Leeds Athletic’s Isabella De Jager was named Gilbert MVP and was presented with a £50 gift voucher.

The British Army, who are the principal partners of the event, were in attendance and engaged with players throughout, sharing information about the important work they do in the community and providing fun challenges for players to get involved with between matches.

Thanks to the British Army, Gilbert and Physique Management, who provided an England Netball-approved first aid kit for the winning team along with prizes for all players on the winning team.