From Debuts to Dresses: Year 10 Netball Make Their Mark

On Wednesday 17 September, the Year 10 girls netball team travelled to Chailey for their first fixture of the year – a marathon away day involving six other schools (Chailey, Heathfield, Priory, Ringmer, Uckfield and Beacon). Not only was it their first outing of the season, but also the first time this squad had ever played together, with new joiners including complete beginners.

The Results:

• Win: 3–1 vs Beacon Bs (cue wild celebrations!)
• Draw: 2–2 vs Beacon As (but only just, as Beacon equalised on the final whistle
• Losses: 5 in total – though the 1–0 loss to Uckfield was a moral victory, and the 4–2 defeat to Chailey was so fast-paced we’re still dizzy.

Star Performances:

• Bea and Flo ran riot in attack, slotting away 8 goals between them. The opposition defenders are probably still having flashbacks.
• Martha made her Uplands debut in Goal Defence – and displayed some brilliant interceptions and played extremely well considering it was her first ever tournament.
• Emilie was a rock in Goal Keeper, sticking to her shooters like glue and making life very awkward for the opposition.
• Ellen covered every bit of the court in Centre, holding her own against some seriously physical players and somehow managing to stay upright throughout.

• Edie, Olivia and Holly had great presence during the matches, showing fantastic awareness on court. They produced strong passes, opened up space, kept the game flowing, and marked their opponents tightly – all of which made a huge difference to the team’s play.

Fashion Report:

This wasn’t just a debut for new players – our brand-new netball dresses also made their first appearance. And while the final scoreboard might not have placed us at the top, in terms of sheer style, Uplands were undoubtedly best dressed. The girls looked sharp, smart, and ready for action – think Paris Fashion Week but with more lunges and fewer handbags.

A huge thank you to E W Gee Ltd. for generously funding our new sports kits. This initiative, launched last academic year by Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Tolland, was designed to enhance our school’s sports provision across Rugby, Netball, and Football. The impact has already been incredible, this week alone, 45 students attended Netball Club, a clear sign that the new kits are helping boost participation and enthusiasm.

We’d also like to extend our thanks to Heatwave Print in Hastings for producing the kits, they look fantastic!

Final Word:

The girls should be congratulated for their hard work, resilience, and team spirit in what was a tough but fantastic tournament. The results sheet doesn’t show the full story – this was a team gelling for the first time, playing some excellent netball, and showing plenty of promise for the season ahead. Please do join me in giving them a huge well done when you see them. I am so proud of them!

We are Uplands!

Miss. Buckley, PE Teacher