Match Reports: Week 5

U10 Netball v BROMSGROVE (A)

Date: 2 February 2026

Players of the Match: Lara & Pippa

Result: Won 7-6, Lost 8-1

Two U10 teams travelled to Bromsgrove for a late fixture on Monday. Bromsgrove are a strong netball school so the matches were going to be competitive.

Team 1 started well, getting an early 3–1 lead with Tilly and Suvaiyah working well together in the shooting circle. This was extended to 6–4 in the next quarter after Georgia came on at GA. The ball was being brought down the court confidently, with the girls timing their movements well and pushing the ball into space effectively. However, Bromsgrove’s tall GK began to pick off the overhead passes into Tilly, meaning we had to work much harder for each goal.

Defensively, the team were excellent, with Lara making several key interceptions and turning the ball over repeatedly. The final quarter was incredibly tight, finishing 7–6. Bromsgrove had the upper hand in this quarter, but the final whistle came just in time. A well-fought and deserved win.

Team 2 faced a tough match, but their defensive effort was outstanding. Avaani, Pippa and Alessia were particularly impressive, staying tight to their players and making numerous interceptions in the defensive circle.

We struggled at times to move the ball into attack and into the D, and need to remember to drive forward to receive the ball rather than running away from it. Despite this, Sophia worked hard to bring the ball down the court, and we did manage to get the ball into the D on a few occasions, although we couldn’t quite convert our chances.

The team worked tirelessly throughout and never gave up, showing true Blue Coat spirit.

U10 NETBALL V BROMSGROVE

Date: 2 February 2026

Result: Won 2-0, Drew 2-2

Two U10 BCS teams travelled to Bromsgrove for an exciting afternoon of fast and energetic netball. From the first whistle, both matches were played at a high tempo, with plenty of end-to-end action that kept players and spectators engaged throughout.

BCS demonstrated clear progress in their passing and movement, showing increased confidence when working the ball down the court. The girls worked hard to support one another and look for passing options, which was pleasing to see and reflected the focus in training. When BCS were able to spread out and use the width of the court, they were far more effective in maintaining possession and creating attacking opportunities.

At times, however, play became congested, making it harder for BCS to keep control of the ball. As the players continue to develop their understanding of space and movement, this will help reduce errors and allow them to make quicker, more effective decisions in possession. Encouragingly, footwork across the team was consistent throughout both games, contributing to a tidy and disciplined performance.

Positional awareness remains an area for development, particularly in helping players recognise when to move into space and when to hold their positions. Improving this aspect of the game will further enhance BCS’s ability to build attacks and defend more effectively.

Both matches were closely contested, with Bromsgrove providing strong opposition. Their sharp and accurate passing made defending a challenge at times, and BCS had to work hard to apply pressure and force turnovers. The determination and resilience shown by the BCS players were excellent, especially when play swung quickly from one end of the court to the other.

BCS were rewarded for their efforts, securing a win in one match and a draw in the other. Overall, it was a very positive outing, with clear signs of progress and plenty to build on. Well done to all the girls for their effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

U10 Netball v KING’S HAWFORD (H)

Date: 2 February 2026

Players of the Match: Heidi, Sukhmani

Result: Lost 10-0, Won 6-5

Two Blue Coat U10 netball teams played King’s Hawford at home in a competitive and enjoyable set of fixtures.

In Mrs Bennett’s match, the Blue Coat girls performed well against a well drilled King’s Hawford A team, showing good effort and resilience throughout. To progress further, they need to be more direct in attack and work harder to get in front of their defender when receiving the ball.

In Miss Crews’s game, the girls worked hard defensively, particularly with marking, and grew in confidence as the match progressed. After a tentative start, they became more eager for the ball, found space more effectively and drove forward with purpose. Some fantastic shooting from Sukhmani allowed Blue Coat to capitalise on possession and secure a well earned win.

U9 Netball v Warwick (a)

Date: 3 February 2026

Players of the Match: Lyla, Ava H and Sian

Result: Win 6-4, 2 Wins

Three U9 netball teams travelled to Warwick for an away fixture on a cold and wet evening and produced an excellent set of performances, battling the conditions with great determination.

Playing 5-a-side, the girls showed clear progress in rotating through positions and developing a better understanding of their roles on court.

All three matches were competitive and closely contested, with Blue Coat showing resilience and teamwork to secure three well deserved victories. The girls supported each other well and remained positive throughout.

As they continue to develop, the next area of focus will be reducing congestion in the centre third by holding space more effectively and improving the timing of attacking runs.

U8/9 swimming gala v bromsgrove

Date: 3 February 2026

The Year 3 and 4 swimming team took part in an away gala at Bromsgrove, where all pupils performed incredibly well. They showed great confidence and skill, clearly applying the techniques they have been practising in school. This made for an exciting, closely contested, and highly skilled gala throughout. Well done to all the children for their fantastic effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

U11 Netball v KING’S HAWFORD (A)

Date: 4 February 2026

Player of the Match: Hannah

Result: Win 17-3

The U11s enjoyed an afternoon of netball away at King’s Hawford on Wednesday. Over the past few weeks, Mrs Patching-Jones’s team have been focusing on improving attacking play, encouraging the girls to drive forward for the ball rather than run away from it.

We did have a height advantage over King’s Hawford, which meant there were still a lot of overhead balls, but there was a noticeable improvement in attacking play throughout the game.

Shooting accuracy was very good, particularly from Hannah.

Defensively, we were solid, with Alice, Kellie and Annaliese reading the opposition’s passes well and timing their interceptions effectively.

Towards the end of the match, we rotated the team to give the girls experience in different positions, helping us prepare for the upcoming IAPS Bee competition.

U11 Netball v KING’S HAWFORD (A)

Player of the Match: Anai

Result: Win 12-9

BCS produced a determined and impressive performance to secure a 12–9 win against a strong King’s Hawford side in what proved to be a game of two very different halves.

The first half saw King’s Hawford take control early on, applying pressure across the court and making it difficult for BCS to settle. Despite this, BCS worked hard to create scoring opportunities through good movement and passing into the shooting circle.

Unfortunately, shots did not fall their way, and several promising chances went unconverted. King’s Hawford capitalised on this, edging ahead and taking a narrow lead into the halftime break.

At halftime, BCS showed great resilience and focus, returning to the court with renewed confidence and determination. The second half marked a turning point in the match as the girls began to execute the structures and strategies that have been a key focus in training. Improved spacing, sharper passing, and strong communication allowed BCS to work far more coherently as a team.

This growing confidence led to some excellent passages of play, with the ball being moved smoothly down the court and into the shooting circle. Most importantly, the shooters showed composure, and their hard work was rewarded as the goals began to drop. As momentum shifted, BCS were able to take the lead and maintain it through disciplined team play.

To their credit, King’s Hawford continued to challenge throughout the second half, never allowing BCS to become comfortable and ensuring the game remained competitive until the final whistle.

Overall, this was a fantastic team performance that highlighted the girls’ determination, teamwork, and willingness to learn and apply new skills. A thoroughly deserved victory and a great example of progress being made. Well done to all the girls on a brilliant effort!

U10/11 swimming gala v KING’S HAWFORD

Date: 5 February 2026

The Year 5 and 6 swimming team competed in an exciting gala against King’s Hawford, held at BCS, and produced outstanding performances across all events.

The pupils showed excellent skill, determination, and confidence, with many swimmers achieving personal best times throughout the afternoon.

One school record was also broken, highlighting the impressive progress made through their hard work and commitment in training.

It was a closely contested and thrilling gala, and the team should be extremely proud of their achievements.

A huge well done to everyone involved, a fantastic display of talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship.