2009-2010 Season
20 March
Junior Netball vs Strathallan
The junior netballers entertained Strathallan on Saturday and played three entertaining and competitive matches losing out each time in closely fought games.
11 March
Junior Netball vs Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen
Year 10 VII report by Jacqui A
The first quarter started off very strongly and quickly. Both sides were evenly matched so the scores remained close throughout the quarter. As nervous as the Year 10 team were, they were all very determined to do their best. The tension rose as the end of the first quarter came to a finish with the scores at 4-2 to Robert Gordon’s.
After some rearranging of positions and some motivational words from the girls and Miss Mason, we headed back on court, determined to redeem ourselves and come out on top. There were huge amounts of concentration and strong play from the Gordonstoun girls which definitely paid off, as we came out on top at half time, 7-9.
This gave the team a good boost, but there was still a large amount of pressure to stay on top. The third quarter began, still with a great deal of skill and determination. It was a tough quarter for both sides as each team was working extremely hard to end up on top. At 10-11 the Gordonstoun girls just coming out on top but were anxious about the final quarter ahead. Their minds were still filled with the determination to do their best and hopefully win the match.
After shuffling around positions for the final time, the girls set out on what would hopefully be a successful quarter. The Robert Gordon’s girls presented fierce and powerful play as the Gordonstoun girls responded with speed and skill. There was much motivation and support from the crowd, but Robert Gordon managed to climb up to make the scores even. The final score of 15-15 had the girls a little disappointed, especially because it was such an anxious and stress-filled match. Through it all, the girls played really well and, as Captain, I would like to congratulate them on their efforts.
Year 9 report by Rose O
Today the Year 9 and Year 10 Netball team took an exhausting 2 hour bus drive to Aberdeen to play against Robert Gordon’s. We didn’t actually go to the school but went to their university's Sports Centre instead, which I have to say was amazing! I think it’s safe to say everyone was pretty nervous because it was a public centre so there could be people watching but luckily no one was and as we entered the main Hall we saw the Robert Gordon team.
During the first quarter it was really intense as the Robert Gordon’s team took us by surprise and very impressively scored 5 goals efficiently, whilst we struggled to get on the score board. In the 2nd quarter we knew we had to up our game and everyone tried really hard to get some goals, which we did with the 2nd quarter ending 8-2 to them. Everyone was pretty exhausted in the 3rd quarter as we battled on, working hard up the court but only managing to secure one more goal. By the end of the match it was a good, fair win to Robert Gordon’s who had put out a strong team and with the Gordonstoun team failing to capitalise on any of our advantages the final score was 13-3. Everyone tried their best and over-all it was a challenging and fun match.
9 March
Junior Netball vs Trinity College, Glenalmond
Today the Junior teams hosted two visiting teams from Glenalmond. All four teams involved in the fixture played very well and enjoyed a good level of competition. However it was the Gordonstoun teams who proved strongest on this occasion with the results and reports as follows:
Junior A VII report by Hermione D M
The As had a strong team and worked really well together. We got off to an amazing start with everyone trying their hardest. Some players swapped on and off to make sure that everyone had a go. Our team was stronger than Glenalmond's and, even though the score was much higher to us, everyone still played fantastically.
Final score : 31-8. Well done guys!
Junior B VII report by Fiona T
At 2pm on Tuesday afternoon a group of Gordonstoun girls made their way up to the Sports Centre. Although tired at the end of term, we started the first quarter of 8 minutes determined to beat Glenalmond and really believed they had a chance. When we had scored 8 goals to 0 in that quarter, we decided that we really shouldn't have been nervous to begin with! Going from strength to strength, we just kept scoring goals until finally the game finished at 16-2 to Gordonstoun - very well done to all the girls for working so hard.
6 March
Scottish Independent Schools' Netball Tournament
Report by Ms Mason
For the first time in a long time Gordonstoun had the pleasure of hosting the Scottish Independent Schools Netball Tournament. This year we welcomed Fettes, Kilgraston, Strathallan, Glenalmond and Robert Gordon’s onto the campus and, most importantly, into our brand new Sports Hall. The tournament had an even earlier start than usual with two of the visiting schools travelling up on the Friday evening before the tournament, to stay over night on campus. The Plewlands and Windmill girls thoroughly enjoyed this experience, relishing the opportunity to play hosts not only to show off their hospitality skills but also their boarding houses.
The Saturday morning started with breakfast and chapel for the home team as well as our visitors and, with the remaining travelling teams arriving by 10:30am, the tournament got off to a prompt start at 11am. There was some excellent competition throughout the morning, with matches being played on both full size courts. All members of the netball squad were on hand to help, with some running the scores and others providing refreshments for our guests.
The matches ran smoothly for most teams - unfortunately Gordonstoun picked up two early injuries which hit us hard - but under the watchful eye of Miss Windsor the scores were collated and it came down to a final between Strathallan and Kilgraston. The final was a well fought out match with both teams demonstrating excellent skills and abilities and, although Kilgraston had fielded an exceptionally strong team this year, Strathallan just managed to beat them. With Strathallan declared as the winners, the medals and trophies were awarded, followed by a well-deserved lunch for all those who had participated, before the visiting schools set off on their return journeys.
Special thanks go to Miss Windsor for her assistance with the scoring and time-keeping and to all of the netball squad for their hospitality and for their excellent attitude on court. Gordonstoun would like to thank the visiting teams for their participation, and to wish the other schools success with the rest of their season.
23 February 2010
The senior netball players were involved in a match against the Lossie Ladies team this evening. It proved to be an enjoyable and successful evening with the Gordonstoun team winning 32-19.
10 February 2010
The junior netball teams visited Buckie High school to play their first matches of the term. A wide range of players were selected to give match play experience and everyone acquitted themselves very well indeed. The Buckie teams proved to be excellent hosts and the Gordonstoun players thoroughly enjoyed their visit but could not quite match the home teams’ skills and efforts losing out 8 -7 to Buckie at U14 level and 13-10 to Buckie at U15s. Miss Mason commented on the very pleasing levels of effort and commitment from all involved.
12 November
1st VII vs Robert Gordon's College
Report by Captain of Netball, Brooke Anderson
The 1st and 2nd netball teams travelled to Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen today to play their matches. The 1st team played first and, in the first quarter, didn’t quite play up to full potential letting Robert Gordon’s gain a lead but therefore also learning the oppositions' strengths and weaknesses. We then went into the 2nd quarter playing better netball and gaining more on the opposition. At half time the thought that we were playing quite well made us relax a bit, causing us to slip behind quite a lot in the third quarter and giving Robert Gordon’s a big lead. Our performance in the third quarter motivated us more and we realised that we were not playing up to our real potential at all. Therefore in the final quarter we played really well as a team and won the quarter allowing us to catch up a lot but still leaving us with a loss.
2nd VII vs Robert Gordon's College
Report by 2nd VII Captain, Hannah Tonneman
The 2nd VII were up against rather strong opponents. Nevertheless, they started off in high spirits. In the first quarter of the match they played well, defending the opposing team from the goal successfully a few times. Once the third and fourth quarters came around, the team got tired and prevented themselves from being as successful as they should have been. The team is definitely full of skilled individuals but they should have a more competitive attitude in games and aspire to play as a team. Several team members were deeply frustrated with the final score of 19-5, believing that the team could have performed much better than this.
7 November
1st VII and 2nd VII vs Kilgraston
Report by Ms Mason
On Saturday Gordonstoun’s 1st and 2nd Vll teams travelled down to Kilgraston School, near Perth, to play netball. This fixture is usually earlier on in the term and is normally played on the outside courts, however due to the later date, we arrived to find that we would be playing inside which was a great relief as it was very sunny but very cold outside.
The 1st Vll played the first match and won the toss, Unfortunately, the good team spirit that was present prior to the match did not materialise on the court. Individual players demonstrated strong skills in the first quarter, but there was a distinct lack of team cohesion on court and Kilgraston did not waste any time in exploiting this weakness. The next three quarters followed a very similar pattern, with Gordonstoun making silly errors and Kilgraston ready to take advantage of them. The individual players on the team showed promise of turning the game around in the third quarter however, with a lack of communication and aggression in their play it was not meant to be and unfortunately the final whistle was blown with Gordonstoun well and truly behind.
The 2nd VII, having watched the 1st team lose, were keen to get out and demonstrate their competence and gain a victory. The first quarter started reasonably well with the girls taking their time to settle into the game and get a feel for their opposition. However, as the second quarter finished it was obvious that there was once again a lack of communication amongst the team. Reluctant to give up the girls played a great third quarter and it was looking promising, but they couldn’t do enough to close the gap and the final whistle was once again blown on a Gordonstoun defeat.
There is a lot of work to do this term, so that the individual talent in the teams is not over shone by the lack of cohesion amongst the players on court. Training will continue to try and tap into the potential that both teams have to offer.
9 October
Senior team vs Dingwall Ladies
The senior netball squad travelled to Dingwall to play against the ladies squad from Dingwall. The girls played two matches on the trip, winning one comfortably with the team performing well with several good individual performances also, but coming unstuck against the more experienced of the two ladies teams finally losing out in the fourth quarter. Again the performance of the team should herald a positive and successful season to come.
Easter 2009 Netball and Hockey Tour to Barbados