Mayfield girls clinch County Netball title

The girls of St Leonards-Mayfield School are celebrating a famous victory at this year’s Sussex Independent Schools Netball Association Tournament, which was held at the G4S Netball Centre in East Grinstead on Saturday 6 March. Mayfield beat fourteen schools to the coveted Under 15 trophy in a highly competitive series of matches. The School as a whole was awarded the Sandra Taylor Memorial Cup for the conduct and approach of its pupils during the tournament.

In the qualifying rounds of the U15 competition, the Mayfield girls beat Burgess Hill (9-8), Seaford College (8-4), Eastbourne College (8-4) and Ardingly College (9-1). In the semi-final they dispatched Hurstpierpoint College 7-5 and in a nail-biting final defeated Brighton College by a score of 10-9 to take the trophy.

The team comprised Erin Howell and Becky Lennon (joint captains) along with Claire Bowler, Catherine Henderson, Sophie Pegram Heron, Flossie Taylor, CC Rowson, Alice Sampson and Vicky Estlin.

Mayfield’s sporting credentials are becoming increasingly eye-catching. In addition to the School’s victory at the Sussex Independent Schools Netball Association Tournament, in the last six months the pupils have won the National Schools Equestrian Association Championships for the second year running, clinched victory at Under 15 level in hockey’s Sussex Cup, and were crowned Sussex Intermediate Cross Country Champions.

Head of PE at Mayfield, Heidi Hyde, commented: “The U15 team are a talented group who have worked extremely hard this year. Their enthusiasm and commitment have never wavered and they are deserving recipients of the S.I.S.N.A. title. I am incredibly proud of them and all the girls who took part in the tournament. Furthermore, the umpires unanimously voted to award Mayfield the Sandra Taylor Memorial Cup for the Spirit of the Tournament for the fair play and etiquette displayed by our girls across all age groups at the tournament.”