St Ursula’s and Downlands stars gear up for netball showdown

Derby day: The Merici-Chevalier Cup is fast becoming one of Toowoomba’s showpiece sporting events. We profile the key traits of all 100 players in St Ursula’s and Downlands College derby.

St Ursula's Senior A Merici-Chevalier netball players Darcie Gillis, Jorja Britton, Mikayla O’Neill, Aaliyah Selby, Haylee Doherty, Rose Coren, Veronica Farrow and Amelia Doherty.

Downlands College are a Merici-Chevalier Cup force.

Chasing a ninth straight victory in Friday night’s clash with crosstown rivals St Ursula’s, they are no strangers to success in the annual netball showdown.

It will be ‘hard work’ and not a history of success that will determine the outcome in the schoolgirls clash, according to Downlands First VII captain Lara Fitzgerald.

“Our biggest strength is we work hard as a team and for each other, that is really important in any sport,” Fitzgerald said.

“If you want to win games you have to put the team first and we do that.

“We move the ball forward really well too.

“Our defence creates a lot of turnovers and we move the ball up court and get it to our shooters in good positions for them to capitalise.

“One other thing that really helps is all the support we have recieved.

“It’s amazing seeing the whole school behind us - we appreciate it so much.”

Downlands will also be bouyed by some top performances against elite schoolgirls netball teams at the recent Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball carnival.

The school ranked among the top eight teams in the state at the carnvial.

“We matched it with some of the best teams at QISSN,” Fitzgerald said.

“That gave us a lot of confidence.

“There are a lot of things we can improve on but it helps a lot when you play well in games against top teams.”

Having watched her team grow and develop over the course of the year, Downlands First VII coach Georgia Lindsay is confident her team will be competitive.

Like her team’s captain, Lindsay believes Downlands biggest strength is their heart.

“The girls produced some exceptional performances at QISSN,” Lindsay said.

“I’ve been really impressed with their ability to dig deep when they need to.

“They fight for everything on the court, dig deep for each other and never give up on a play.”

St Ursula’s College will host the event which will see some of the best young netballers in the region battle it out with games starting at 4pm before the senior first teams compete at 7.30pm.

We have run the rule over every St Ursula’s and Downlands player set to compete from the junior teams through to the First VII teams.

Check out every player who is set to step onto the court this Friday below.

First VII

St Ursula’s

Coach: Tom Morton

Haylee Doherty (WA/C): One of the College netball co-captains, Haylee Doherty is a speedy mid-court player with great court awareness and ability to direct play. She completes a massive amount of work through the middle and around the circle and is an excellent feeder to the shooters.

Aaliyah Selby (WD/C): Selby is the co-captain alongside Doherty and has formed a tantalising partnership with her in the mid-court. She is a competitive player who is strong on the circle edge and does not give her opponent any easy options.

Veronica Farrow (GS): Farrow will be one to watch on Friday night as she is an accurate and reliable shooter who offers either movement or holding ability in the circle. She is a great team player who’s always supportive of her teammates.

Rose Coren (GA/WA): The quiet achiever, Coren is a valuable and versatile player who makes her presence felt wherever she plays on the court. She possesses excellent passing ability on the circle edge or shooter to shooter.

Mikayla O’Neill (GA/GS): O’Neill is a fantastic young shooter who has great netball intellect and knowledge. She can score from all areas within the circle edge thanks to her pinpoint accuracy.

Libby Hain in action for the St Ursula’s Senior B team in 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Libby Hain (C/WA): Hain is an elusive player whose calm demeanour helps to control the tempo of the game. She is the ultimate team player who does all she can to support and back up her teammates.

Georgia McAuliffe in action for St Ursula’s.

Georgia McAuliffe (C/WD): Georgia McAuliffe has an unrivalled ability to read the play and pull off some amazing intercepts. Along with her stunning intercepting ability, she is a strong mid-court player with good speed and court awareness.

Jorja Britton (GD/WD): Jorja Britton is a strong, committed defender who works hard in both defence and attack. She brings relentless defence inside the circle and is a strong rebounder.

Amelia Doherty (GD/GK): Amelia Doherty is an amazing athlete who competes for every ball at blistering pace and gives 100 per cent effort every time she steps onto the court. She brings impressive aerial strength and can drive the ball down the court.

Darcie Gillis (GK/GD): Gillis’s biggest strengths are rebounding and putting opposing shooters under pressure. She helps to get those elusive turn overs and assists in driving the ball out of defence.

The Downlands College First VII netball team.

Downlands

Bree Adams (GS/GA): Bree brings a youthful enthusiasm that is a breath of fresh air to the team. She works hard to offer strong options to the ball and contributes on court by working with her teammates to ensure good movement in the circle.

Emily Bidgood (WD/GD/GK): Emily brings a competitive aura with her on court leadership through communication and encouragement. She is the first one to hit the deck for a loose ball and always makes sure she leaves everything out on the court.

Carrie Coetzee (GD/WD): Carrie is an integral part of our team on and off the court. She offers an insight into the game well beyond her years and is always our most vocal supporter.

Downlands First VII centre Tanahya Esler against St Ursula's. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Tanahya Esler (C/WA): Tanahya works overtime to contribute to the team in a variety of important ways. The way she reads the play and always makes the right decision, offers a steadying presence on court.

Anne Fitzgerald (GS/GA): Anne’s dedication and willingness to learn each day has seen her develop into a vital part of our attack end. She has worked tirelessly on and off the court to contribute and score goals for our team.

Lara Fitzgerald (GA/GS): Lara embodies the leadership style of actions meaning more than words as she sets the standards at training and in games for the team to follow. Through her work ethic on and off the court she has become an experienced presence other players look to and learn from.

Abigail Hyde (GD/GK): Abigail has worked hard this year to improve her defensive footwork and decision making on court. She disrupts the opposition and wins us possessions through her positioning and ability to dictate attackers movements off the ball.

Ella Maxwell (GK/GD/WD): Ella brings height and elevation to our team combined with her defensive instincts to gain turnovers. Her hands over pressure and disruptiveness on the ball make it difficult for the opposition to get the ball out.

Ella Norton (C/WD): Ella provides a calming presence for the length of the court with her savvy decision making and strength to the ball. She is a constant contributor throughout the court with her ability to read space and set up attacking plays.

Emily Simms (C/WA): Emily is a difference maker on court with quick hands and accurate feeds. Throughout the season she has made intercepts at crucial times and has a high level of knowledge that is embodied in her game play.

Liesel Groves (WA/C): Liesel offers strong leads to the ball and her increasing confidence allows for her to cleanly feed her shooters. She contributes on and off the ball each game and ensures she is always working hard to make an impact.

St Ursula's Merici-Chevalier Cup Senior B team – Willow Smith, Millie Ryan, Abbie Mills, Isla Kearney, Lily Cameron, Ali Murray, Grace Douglas, Yana Shevchenko, Mykah Bryant, Molly Toms and Jorja Bubb.

Second VII

St Ursulas

Coach: Julian Cattonar

Ali Murray (C/GD): For Senior B team co-captain Ali Murray, transitioning this year from circle defence to centre court has not weakened her ability one bit. She is an inspiring captain and leads by example on and off the court.

Grace Douglas (GA/GS): Douglas is a reliable co-captain with a thirst for knowledge and is always eager to provide for the team. She has a sensational shooting ability as she is accurate from anywhere inside the circle.

Lily Cameron (WD/C): Cameron is a pocket rocket who will push herself to exhaustion and then still give the team more. Her incredible work ethic and energy brings a spark to the midcourt.

Abbie Mills (WD/C): Mills is an intelligent player who analyses all facets of the game. In the heat of the battle, she remains composed and understands what’s needed for the team and brings it.

Willow Smith (GS/GA): Smith is a shooter who is not afraid to take a few bumps along the way to scoring for the team.

Mykah Bryant (WD/C): Bryant is aggressive in defence and contests for every opposition pass that comes her way.

Jorja Bubb (WA/C): Bubb is a strong member of the mid-court who understands where she needs to be and when.

Isla Kearney (GA/WA): Isla Kearney is an explosive player who finds her way into the circle no matter who is in defence.

Millicent Ryan (GK): Ryan is a rock in the circle who ensures shooters must work hard for their chance to score.

Yana Shevchenko (WA/C): Shevchenko has not lost any of her talent despite taking a couple of years away from representative playing to focus on umpiring. She is an elite playmaker who provides great feeds to her goalies.

Molly Toms (GD/WD): Toms is a new addition to representative netball who has quickly become a relied upon member of the defensive line up.

St Ursula's 2024 Junior A team players Penny Cavanough, Alexis Ware, Sienna Logan, Olivia Webster, Annabel Bond, Miela Beckett, Amelia Dunemann, Charlotte James, Chloe Dolley and Maya Cameron.

The Downlands College Second VII netball team.

Downlands

Lori Adam (GK/GD): Lori is a tenacious and strategic defender who provides relentless pressure to disrupt the opposing attack.

Lynleigh Beutel (GD/GK): Lynleigh provides exceptional anticipation, agility and tactical awareness to consistently secure turnovers.

Molly Casey (GS/GA): Molly is a composed and clinical scorer who demonstrates exceptional movement, positioning and decision making.

Eden Fechner (C/WA): Eden has very good court vision and dynamic play making abilities. She is able to seamlessly link defensive and attacking plays.

Kiana Hazelbane (C/WA/WD): Kiana is able to control the games pace and create scoring opportunities with precision.

Lola Hunt (WA/GA): Lola is a versatile player adept at both setting up scoring opportunities with her precise passing and can be put into the shooting circle when called upon.

Mia Kleidon (GA/GS): Mia is a dynamic scorer who blends sharp shooting accuracy with strategic movement and playmaking abilities.

Jessica Tillman (GS/GK): Jess is a resilient defender who expertly disrupts her opponents plays and showcases great timing in interceptions.

Carrie Wyrzykowski (WD): Carrie is able to seamlessly transition between defensive and offensive roles ensuring consistent impact throughout the game.

Annabelle Savage (C/WA): Annabelle has great court awareness, strategic passing and relentless energy to dictate play.

Junior A

St Ursulas

Coach: Jaime Thomas

Meila Beckett (GD/GK): The Junior A co-captain is dynamic in defence and never misses an opportunity for an intercept. She is aerially strong, dominant on court and leads by example.

Annabel Bond (GK/WD): Fellow Junior A co-captain Annable Bond is quiet achiever who chips away and quietly goes about changing a game. Her defensive footwork helps turn over balls throughout the court.

Maya Cameron (GK/GD): Cameron is a strong, unassuming defender who comes up with the ball more often than not. Her ability to adapt to the oppositions style of play is admirable.

Amellia Dunemann (WD/C): A dominant feeder into the circle who can come up with game changing intercepts on court.

Olivia Webster (WA/C): Webster is a relative newcomer to representative netball who gives her all on court for her team and is always wanting to learn more.

Charlotte James (WA/C): A steady and consistent team player who remains calm under pressure and provides a strong presence in mid court.

Penny Cavanough (C/WA): A fast mid-court player whose quick footwork ties up her opposition on court.

Sienna Logan (GA/GS): Logan is a quick and agile attacker with precise aim in the shooting circle, backed by a strong defensive presence.

Chloe Dolley (GA/GS): Dolley is a workhorse in attack as she is an accurate shooter who can take a few hits and still provide an attacking option on court and in the circle.

Alexis Ware (GS): A reliable and precise shooter with a quiet demeanour. Even when she is shooting goal after goal, she remains a humble team-first player.

St Ursula's 2024 Merici-Chevalier Cup Junior B team players Eloise English, Emma Cavanagh, Scarlet Haywood, Lily Kearney, Milla Fitzpatrick, Taylah Priebbenow, Sophie Reeves, Abby James, Katelyn Scholl and Ava Thompson.

The Downlands College Junior A netball team.

DOWNLANDS

Anthea Cocker (GS): Anthea is a goal shooter who always puts in 110%. She has clever positioning which maximises our scoring chances.

Claire Davison (WD/GD/WA): Dynamic defensive player who always has eyes for the ball. Claire provides strong, consistent pressure on her opposition.

Gabrielle Drew (WD/GD/GK): Energetic and strong defensive player who always has exceptional arms over the ball.

Elsie Hughes (WD/GD/GK): Versatile player who gives her all in every position. Elsie provides very good defensive pressure.

Genevieve Hyde (C/WA): Gen is a very reliable centrecourt player who is a workhorse in both attack and defence. She uses her speed and vision to control the flow of the game.

Eugenie Lee (WD/C/WA): Eugenie is a fast and agile mid court player. She reads the play exceptionally well.

Rory Nichols (C/WA): Rory has great court awareness and provides a safe and accurate pass into the circle for our shooters.

Georgina Nunn (WA/GA): Georgina is quick off the mark and has good ball control. She is a defenders nightmare.

Caitlin O’Neill (GA/GS): The team can always rely on Caitlin to shoot the super shots under pressure. She works tirelessly and always puts in 110 per cent.

Meg Reimann (GK/GD): Meg is a highly agile and strategic defender who excels in intercepting passes and blocking the shot.

Junior B

St Ursula’s

Coach: Tracy McAuliffe

Milla Fitzpatrick (GA/WA): Simply put, the Junior B co-captain is a superstar shooter. She brings a great passion for he game and always has a smile on her face when she is on the court.

Taylah Priebbenow (GD/GK): Priebbenow is co-captain alongside Fitzpatrick and is a leader in the defensive end of the court. She is strong defensively and is a rebounding machine, rarely allowing opposing shooters to grab their own miss.

Abby Thomas (WD/GD): A dynamic defender, who makes her opponents work hard to get their shot in.

Ava Thompson (WD/WA): Don’t be fooled by her quite demeanour off court, once she steps on the court, Thompson is an absolute menace to her opposition.

Eloise English (GS): English is a tall, lean, shooting machine who is always a tough task for opposing goalkeepers to try and stop.

Emma Cavanagh (GK/GD): Cavanagh is an absolute powerhouse in defence, and is St Ursula’s intercepting queen.

Katelyn Scholl (WA/C): A speedy and determined mid-courter who is always wanting to improve her game.

Lily Kearney (GS/GA): You may hear Lily Kearney before you see her, but when she’s got her eye in, she is hard to stop.

Scarlet Haywood (C/WA): Haywood is a fast and agile talent in the mid-court. She is an amazing workhorse as her legs seemingly never tire, making her a certain player to watch.

Sophie Reeves (WA/C): A quiet observer in mid-court, Reeves is a fabulous team member who can calm any storm.

Downlands

Haly Adam (WA/C): Haly is a very positive addition to the team and with her great attacking plays, she is a strong leader on the court.

Evie Barker (WA/GA): Evie has great enthusiasm in her attacking positions, and with her positivity and skills, she is a reliable player on the court.

Emilia Bates (GK/GS): Emilia brings great resilience and amazing netball skills to the court as a defender and a shooter.

Erin Coetzee (WD/WA): Erin is a fabulous mid court player with a great skill in defence and a wonderful team player.

Alexis Coulter (WD/GD): Alexis is a very passionate netball player and has great defending skills which is highly valuable in the team.

Sophia Hooper (C/WA): Sophia is a great athlete who brings speed to the court and has a great attacking mind.

Evangelina Pikramenos (GK/GD): Eva is a great team player and very reliable as a defender in the circle.

Sienna Montgomery (GS/GA): Sienna is one of our talented shooters and brings great leadership to the team.

Abigail Redinger (GA/GS): Abigail is a great young shooter who has amazing skills around the circle and shows great potential.

Camille Wade (GD/GK): Camille is a fabulous defender and shows her great skills on the court with her amazing intercepts.

St Ursula's junior development team players Lola Youngberry, Lucy McMillan, Charlotte Franklin, Jess Mitchell, Charlotte Tobin, Abby James, Zoe Giles, Lillian Kann and Ellie Bennett.

Junior C

St Ursula’s

Coaches: Jaime Thomas and Julian Cattonar

Abbey James (GA/GS): An accurate shooter who excels within the shooting circle and strong in directing play on the court.

Charlotte Franklin (GA/GS): Franklin brings excellent shooting accuracy within the circle with the ability to read play and present in the right place at the right time.

Charlotte Tobin (GA/WA): Tobin is a reserved player who surprises the opposition with her ability to be where least expected.

Zoe Giles (WA/C): A newcomer to representative netball who performs with the skill and confidence of an experienced player and effectively feeds the ball into the shooting circle.

Jess Mitchell (C/WA): Mitchell possesses a dynamic change of pace in the mid-court and gives her all in defence and attack often turning the ball over in her team’s favour.

Lucy McMillan (WD/GD): McMillan is a terrific defensive player who contests everything and plays a big role in moving the ball down court, often providing a great reset option for attack.

Lillian Kann (GD/WD): Kann is an adaptable utility in her positions on court who often picks off balls around the circle edge.

Lola Youngberry (GK/GD): Youngberry reads the play well to pick up crucial intercepts to turn games around. She is also a strong rebounder inside the circle.

Ellie Bennett (GD/GK): A fast learner whose application of new skills produces an exciting game. She also has a lethal intercept and can latch onto a ball out of nowhere.

Downlands

The Downlands Junior C players will be added to this article as soon the coach is available.