Empowerment Through Competition: Highlights from Loretto Netball and Lacrosse
At Loretto, we believe sport plays a fundamental role in shaping young women into confident, resilient, and driven individuals. Girls’ sport provides a platform for developing essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. Participation in competitive sport not only enhances physical fitness but also fosters a strong sense of discipline, self-belief, and camaraderie. Through rigorous training, strategic gameplay, and overcoming challenges, pupils learn to push their limits and achieve their full potential.
The values instilled through sport—dedication, hard work, and mutual respect—align closely with Loretto’s ethos of nurturing well-rounded individuals who excel both on and off the field. As opportunities for female athletes continue to expand, we are proud to support and celebrate their achievements, encouraging them to reach new heights in their sporting journeys.
Staff vs Pupil Netball Match
In the spirit of fostering competition and teamwork, Loretto recently hosted an exciting staff vs pupil netball match. An all-girls team represented the pupils while some of the male staff joined the opposition, displaying their support of girls’ sport at Loretto. The game began as a closely contested battle, with both teams displaying quick passing and movement to set up their shooters. Cecilia and Louisa led the scoring for the pupils, while Mrs Beddison and Mr White found the net for the staff. By halftime, the staff held a tight 7-6 lead, leaving both teams eager for a strong finish.
As the match progressed, teamwork and strategic passing played a crucial role, with Mr Poward and Miss Dickson effectively moving the ball across the court. The pupils responded with quick interceptions and bounce passes to counter the staff’s advances. The game was filled with moments of high energy, with pupils demonstrating agility and determination in both attack and defence. Despite the pupils’ resilience, the experience of the staff team ultimately proved decisive as they pulled ahead in the final quarter, securing a 17-9 victory.
It was an enjoyable and competitive match that highlighted the pupils’ developing skills and tactical awareness, making for an exciting fixture. Well done to everyone who took part, and a special thanks to Miss Tattersall and Miss Anderson for umpiring. A shout-out also goes to Mr Bou Orm for making his netball debut.
Queen Margaret’s Tournament Recap
Our first Lacrosse team recently embarked on an exciting journey to York for the prestigious Queen Margaret’s tournament, ready to showcase their skills and determination on the field.
The team had a flying start on Saturday, securing two commanding victories against Queen Margaret’s 2s and Oakham with impressive scores of 5-1 and 9-0, respectively. These wins set a strong foundation for the rest of the tournament and demonstrated quality in defence and attack.
As the competition progressed, we faced a formidable Fettes side in a hard-fought 3-3 draw. This hard-fought match boosted our confidence, as we recognized our ability to create opportunities with improved shot accuracy. Our defence remained calm and communicative, laying the groundwork for the rest of the season.
The match against the hosts, Queen Margaret’s 1s, began as a closely contested battle. However, through keen tactical awareness and being clinical in attack, we secured a solid 3-1 victory. Our final group-stage game against Harrogate ended with another convincing 4-1 win in which we controlled the tempo, communicated effectively, and dominated ground ball battles.
The Thrilling Final Showdown
Our unbeaten run propelled us into an all-Scottish final against a determined Fettes team. The game was an intense and well-fought contest, with both sides seizing opportunities. Going into halftime with the game tied at 1-1, the tension was palpable.
Unfortunately, in the second half, Fettes capitalised on their speed and tactical overloads, scoring two quick goals. Despite our efforts to control possession and create chances, we couldn’t quite find the breakthrough we needed, resulting in a 3-1 final score.
Although we fell just short in the final, the tournament proved to be a positive and promising start to an exciting season ahead. The team showcased remarkable determination, resilience, and unity throughout the competition.
Celebrating Individual Achievements
A special shout-out to Imogen, Tamara, Anna B, Eliza, Emily, Amelia, and Maisie for making their first-team debuts—a fantastic milestone. Congratulations to Emily for her outstanding hat-tricks, and to Milla for her incredible goalkeeping performances, particularly in the final.
We also extend our congratulations to Zoe and Imo for receiving the well-deserved tournament MVP awards, a testament to their dedication and skill.
As we look ahead to the rest of the season, the team remains motivated and eager to build on a strong start. With continued hard work, passion, and belief, we are confident in achieving even greater success.
Zoe – Loretto’s First Team Lacrosse Captain; Katy – Lower Sixth Netball Player
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