GRESHAM'S 1st VII netballers enjoyed a highly successful tour in Barbados over the February half term, basking in the sunshine while demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and talent by winning all of their five matches against top Barbadian teams.

GRESHAM'S 1st VII netballers enjoyed a highly successful tour in Barbados over the February half term, basking in the sunshine while demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and talent by winning all of their five matches against top Barbadian teams.

The first match was played at Alexandra's School and although Gresham's were the stronger team it was a difficult match as the girls acclimatised to the heat and a more physical style of play.

However they came out on top winning 35-0.

Four wins against a Barbadian Council side, which were played in the Barbados National Stadium (36-25); Lodge School (20-16), one of the island's oldest and most prestigious schools; Foundation School, where they encountered boisterous spectators and spirited, vocal players (37-10); and Springer Memorial School, winners of last season's Barbados Netball Championship (26-7) rounded off a successful tour.

In their hotel, the girls encountered fellow British holidaymakers Jenny and David Sallow, who expressed their admiration for the team in a recent letter to the North Norfolk News' sister paper, the Eastern Daily Press:

“The team was courteous and considerate to other hotel guests. They trained every day - seemingly without a grumble - in addition to attending to their school work and playing their matches.

“They always seemed to be laughing and there was a marvellous rapport with their teammates and teachers.

It made their fellow guests proud to be British.”

Rachel Quick convincingly rose to the challenge of Tour Captain, while Lizzie Rice was voted Player of the Tour by coaches and Most Valuable Player by the team.