Trinity wins World Schools Netball Cup

Trinity’s 1st VII Netball team took part in the World Schools Netball Cup for the first time and after a tough three days of playing, beat Gordon’s School to be crowned champions. 

The World Schools Netball tournament attracts teams from around the world to compete for the title, and was this year hosted by Loughborough University. The tournament has an U13, U15 and U17 category and for the first time, organisers added an U19 category, meaning our Trinity team could compete. 

The team won all but one match in the initial stages, drawing against Gordon’s School from Woking. This meant, they faced Gordon’s again in the final and held their nerve to win the match, with the final score 13-17 to Trinity. 

Lauren Baldwin was voted Player of the Match for the final with the commentators calling her ‘sensational in the final game: snatching intercepts left, right and centre, dictating in the attacking play and having real precision in her feeding shots’. 

George Budden (captain) said, “We’d faced Gordon’s earlier in the tournament and drew against them, so going into the final we made the decision to play our own game. We wanted to try and keep calm, maintain possession and enjoy it. It’s just an amazing feeling to have won, we’ve had a really strong team this year, we all get on so well and this is a great way to finish off the season for us.” 

Lauren agreed, “Despite playing together for less than a year, we’ve got a really strong connection on and off the court.” 

As well as competing for the title, participants enjoyed a masterclass with Loughborough Lightning – who are based at the university and were recently crowned 2023 Netball Super League Champions. As part of their trip, the Trinity girls also enjoyed a day out at Alton Towers before returning to Croydon as World Schools Netball Cup U19 Champions.

Upper Sixth student and departing Head Girl Izzy Crispin says, “It sounds cliché but winning the World School Games was a dream come true. The long-awaited tournament at Loughborough was the perfect ending to a brilliant year of netball. Having reached both the national and Surrey finals, the team were determined to end the year in style and earn some silverware. Lifting the trophy was a memorable moment made even better as it was shared with a team made up of a group of girls who I am proud to call my friends. A special mention must be given to our captain, George who won Player of the Tournament and has inspired us all throughout the year. Huge thanks to Ms Bennett, Miss Herdman and Mrs Long who created an atmosphere of fun within the group and I will miss playing with such a talented team who enjoy every second on court and celebrate each other’s successes. Trinity netball will forever hold a special place in my heart, and this is testament to the team I had the privilege of playing with.”

Georgina Budden adds, “Netball this year has been an incredible experience in undoubtedly the best school team I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. The trip to Loughborough and the win that it came with was a lovely way to finish the season for the team and a great way to go, particularly for the Upper Sixth leavers. I think the success of the team this year comes not only from the talent it possesses player for player the whole way through court, but the seamless blending throughout from the beginning of the year that I believe to be a result of the team getting on well both off and on court. I think this will be the thing I miss most about this Trinity netball team, the friendships I have formed with my teammates. I would also like to thank Mrs Bennett, Mrs Long, Rowena and Miss Herdman for being an incredible coaching team and support system this year. It’s been a pleasure to be part of Girls Sport more widely at Trinity and I’m sure the success will continue.”

Huge congratulations to the whole team, what a way to end a historic year of Netball at Trinity!