Thunderbirds flying as they storm to five league titles

STRATFORD Thunderbirds are in need of a new trophy cabinet after storming to five league titles this season.

The club’s under-13A team emerged as Birmingham Intermediate League Division Five winners for the second year on the bounce, after retaining their Coventry and Warwickshire crown for the third year in succession in the spring.

The BIL runs from February until July, fielding the strongest junior netball teams the West Midlands has to offer.

At the end-of-season tournament on Sunday, despite the souring temperatures and a heavy handicap, the U13A team remained invincible, beating an U15A Ryland team from Bromsgrove in a nail-biting final, 6-5.

"It's not an accident that this team is so successful”, said head coach, Kelly McCormack, who with assistant coach, Molly Salmons, have devised a summer training program for the squad in preparation for next season’s County Cup Championships.

“Their recent success is a by-product of all the girls’ commitment and hard work.

“As well as a strong club and coaches behind these players, they are lucky to have positive and supportive parents, who always endeavour to get the girls to all their fixtures in the West Midlands and further afield.

“Coaching these girls is a pleasure. They are very receptive, and their retention of new set plays is excellent for a team their age.”

Not to be outdone, the girls in U13B took the BIL Division Six title by virtue of a staggering goal advantage while U13C took top spot in Division Eight by winning all ten of their matches.

The U14A team successfully defended their 2017 title, returning yet another undefeated match card.

With the U12As taking a respectable third place in Division Six, U12Bs will be snapping at their heals for places after winning their Division Nine league with an unassailable ten wins out of ten.