1st VII Netball Team Seals ‘Superball’ Victory
We are delighted to share that the 1st VII Netball team delivered an outstanding performance in this year’s ‘Superball’ match against King’s School, securing a 26-22 victory in front of a sell-out crowd at the University of Worcester Arena. This result sees RGS claim the ‘Superball’ trophy for the seventh time in nine years since the annual match began in 2014. Since then, ‘Superball’ has grown into a major event in the school calendar, celebrating girls’ sport. The match brings together pupils, staff, and supporters from the Family of Schools year after year. This year, 1,400 tickets sold out two weeks in advance!
We were delighted to support St Richard’s Hospice again this year at the event and raised nearly £500 for this important Worcester charity. Thank you to everyone who donated.
Saturday evening opened with the 2nd VII team delivering an incredibly exciting match, which ended 15-14 in King’s Schools’ favour. Between the matches, pupils from the Prep Schools of both RGS and King’s enjoyed a Netball coaching session before dancers from both schools entertained the crowd with choreographed performances. The University Arena was filled with music from a DJ and live commentary from former RGS pupils sports commentator, Max Whittle and RGS Netball Coach, Georgia Hill.
The 1st team match was highly competitive from the outset, with both teams demonstrating resilience and determination. RGS edged ahead at half-time with a narrow 11-10 lead. Under the guidance of Head of Netball, Miss Rebecca Gwilliam, who also plays for the Worcester Reds Netball team, the RGS squad entered the second half prepared for a tough contest.
In the final two quarters, the RGS team showed their athleticism and tenacity calmly to win turnovers and score goals as their supporters cheered them on. The atmosphere in the Arena was electric as the final seconds of the match counted down and RGS stretched their lead to 26-22. As the final whistle blew, over 800 RGS supporters were on their feet to celebrate the win and congratulate the players. The cheer was even louder when RGS Captain Ella Goddard lifted the University of Worcester Netball Cup in celebration.
Reflecting on the match, Miss Rebecca Gwilliam said, “The game was tightly contested and a credit to King’s for pushing us until that final whistle. It was a high intensity game in front of an excited sell-out crowd. After an impressive Netball season, the girls finished the term on a high by lifting the Superball trophy. I am so proud of the girls for their continued efforts, trust and commitment and to retain the Superball trophy has been a delightful end to a fun-filled Netball term.”
RGS Headmaster, John Pitt, whose daughter Katy played in the team, commented on the fixture, saying “What an incredible match and what an experience for the players of both teams to play in front of a large audience in this superb venue. Thank you to Professor Green and the University team and to everyone who joined us both in the Arena and also online watching the match through live streaming. It was amazing to see so many people cheering on the girls in what was a high-quality match played by two very talented sets of players. Well done indeed to all of the players and the RGS coaches, Rebecca Gwilliam and Rebecca Airey. The RGS team is full of hard-working pupils who are utterly determined so they will be pleased to have got over the line. Together, they will have inspired our younger pupils to keep working in their Netball and seize their own opportunity to play ‘Superball’ in the future.”
Gabriela Kiwior was named ‘Player of the Match’ for RGS, while Lauren Harris received the accolade for King’s. Following the match, the players, coaches, and parents gathered for speeches and reflections, with both teams recognising the contributions of their coaches and celebrating the Upper Sixth players for whom this was their final ‘Superball’ appearance.
The ‘Superball’ success for RGS followed two days after the team competed at the ‘Sisters ‘n Sport’ Netball Finals Day held at Loughborough University last Thursday where they finished 3rd in the country in the national Plate competition, beating Sedbergh School in the play-off.
Well done to both teams for an exhilarating match which provided an excellent showcase for girls’ sport.
