The annual handicap tournament of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Senior Netball League took place over the last few weeks and this year had its first sponsor since it began 40 years ago.

A P Robinson & Co, a firm of local accountants and business advisors, proudly supported the event by contributing to the cost of holding the tournament which ran over three weeks and in which 34 teams from the four divisions of the league competed for the title.

Although all 48 teams in the league are individually sponsored by local businesses, the league itself is self-sufficient and usually funds the handicap tournament itself. Despite it being a hugely popular sport in the UK and across the world – more than 20 million people play in 70 countries and on all five continents – netball is still largely considered as a school sport and is given very little media coverage in Britain which is surprising considering that the England Netball Squad are currently placed third in the World Rankings. Imagine the celebrations if the same were true of the national football squad.

Netball became a “recognised” Olympic sport in 1995 but it has never been included in the Olympic Games despite the continuing efforts of the International Federation of Netball Associations. It has, however, become a core sport in the Commonwealth Games since its inclusion in 1998. Having participated in the sport for more than 15 years and always perturbed by the lack of interest and awareness across the area, Victoria Carmichael, Marketing Manager at A P Robinson & Co, thought it was time for local business to support and promote such an accessible and enjoyable activity.

The tournament followed the close of the winter season and the 34 teams were all given individual handicaps based on their final rankings within the four divisions so Pro-Active Jets and Nor-Cargo, who finished top of Division One, began each match with one goal and two goals respectively, and Paragon, a team from Division Four, started every game with 36. Needless to say, with just 18 minutes in which to make up the deficit, the teams in the top flight had a battle on their hands.

By the time the final round of 16 teams began, no squad from Division One made it through although Pro-Active Jets almost got there. As expected the last 16 produced some exciting and competitive netball and true to form the final comprised the teams seeded first and second; Mighty Ducks and Rok, respectively.

And what a final it turned out to be. Mighty Ducks started with 33 goals to Rok’s 34 and the competition was fierce from the first pass of the match. Some excellent shooting and tight defending from both sides meant that the game went down to the final whistle with Rok eventually taking the A P Robinson & Co Trophy by 42 goals to 40.

The trophy will be presented at the Presentation Evening later this year in July.

Prue Whincup, the Fixtures Secretary for the League who has been involved with local netball for nearly 40 years and has organised and overseen the tournament and league fixtures for 20 years, said, “The handicap tournament creates some really competitive matches where every team is under pressure to work harder without making mistakes. It gives the teams in the lower divisions the chance to shine and take centre stage for a change which is a great boost.”

Prue, who was a PE and then a Maths teacher in the area from 1970 until 2000, devotes endless time to the Netball League on a weekly basis. If it weren’t for her dedication and commitment, the league wouldn’t function and the handicap tournament would not be in existence.

A P Robinson & Co were delighted to have supported the tournament and hope to recognise the selfless efforts of all the League’s Secretaries and Umpires who gave up their free time to make it such a success.

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