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RATCLIFFIAN
32 ASSOCIATION SPORTS EVENTS

THE SUE ROBERTS gone forever. There was some excellent shooting from India
Kirkpatrick (10) and Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03), not to mention
NETBALL CUP: some great defence by Holly Allison (12) and Katie Gerighty (11).
A special pat on the back should go to Ella Coulthard (10), Becky
MATCH REPORT Taylor (13) and Becca Pawley (12), who really put their fitness to
the test, running flat out in the centre third.

We did create some magic moments where we almost felt a
SUNDAY 13TH MARCH 2016 possibility of shrinking the gap between the young and old - the
outstanding Ratcliffe 1st Team and us oldies. However, much like
our aged selves, time was not on our side, and Ratcliffe proved to
Ratcliffe College: 47 Old Ratcliffians: 14 us why they have England trialists among their ranks.

With an accumulated age of 186 and varying degrees of fitness Unfortunately, we did not win. We never came close. For those
(ranging from red-faced and sweaty to those of us clutching at who might, for some unknown reason, be a little bit interested,
our sides after the gentlest of warm ups), we knew that our Old the score was 47-14. But let’s not talk about that. Anyway, it
Ratcliffians game would be a real test of our pride. Our aim was could never reflect the fun and enjoyment that the rosy-cheeked
simply not to embarrass ourselves in front of one another and, Old Ratcliffians had, coming back together to play forty minutes
more importantly, to maintain the illusion that we were all still up of netball, although it felt like a lot longer.
to the standard of our formative years.
As ever, we were greeted as if no time had passed at all. It was
We entered the game with high hopes, believing that this might lovely to be welcomed back by the current 1st Team, by our old
just be the year that the Old Ratcliffians would snatch victory. We teachers, and to wander around the grounds and reminisce
had a full team, and even a reserve. Things were looking good. about the good old days.
Even the pre-match team talk was one of glory, and discussion
over who we should thank in our winner’s speech. We were up On behalf of the Old Ratcliffians, we would like to thank Mrs Taylor
for it. and Mrs Roberts for their continued support, their sympathetic
umpiring of our interesting (and questionable) netball skills, and
Our confidence, however, lasted all of twenty seconds. Ratcliffe all of the families and friends that came and supported the Old
got the ball and whizzed it from hand to hand before dropping Ratcliffian games. And who knows? Maybe next year, we can get
it into the net. The Old Ratcliffian mindset shifted from one of the Old Ratcliffians back on the score board!
impending victory to one of simply maintaining our respectability
as former 1st Team players. Nevertheless, we kept going, battled Hannah Tyler (11)
on and, as the quarters passed, rekindled the odd flicker of Old Ratcliffian Team Captain
cohesion and slick passing that we thought might have been

1 2

3

1 The Old Ratcliffian players leaping to defend a goal 2 The Old Ratcliffians & the School team before the match 3 Mike Meredith (89) with the
Ratcliffe captain, Adelaide Muskwe & Sue Roberts.

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