Hartlepool Oaksway Netball Club teenagers Ella Bowen and Alice Currie selected for the England Netball National Academy programme

Goal Defence Ella Bowen and Goal Shooter Alice Currie, both 15, have shone for the club since making their debuts in the Premier League this term.

Now the duo have been selected for the England Netball National Academy programme, much to the delight of the club.

Coach Jill Foreman said: “Ella and Alice both have made the England Netball National Academy programme and we are over the moon that they have made it.

“To get that recognition is great for the girls who have played really well since getting into he first team this season

“They join Leah Kennedy, who is in the national senior squad, and for the three to have national recognition from our small club is great.”

Ella and Alice were part of the team that lost out to Viper 10 Blades 44-50 in their Premier League game at the weekend.

Jill said: “We lost the game in the first quarter really when we ended up trailing by 10 goals.

“The second quarter, we were trailing by two or three, we won the third quarter but lost the last quarter and lost by six goals in the end.

“They are a well-drilled team, they are a very experienced squad, they didn’t give the ball away whereas sometime our choices were not the best.

“We could have done with getting something out of the game.

“But hats off to them - they travelled all the way from Southampton and came and won the game - we will have to travel all the way down there in the new year.

“Holly Linighan was our player of the match - they tried three different players to play against her so you know you must be doing something right.”

Jill added: “We have a very tough away game at Oldham this weekend, which is actually being played on the Saturday. They are second in the table so it is going to be difficult.”

Team; GS -Alice Currie, GA -Tamsin Muala, WA - Hollie Linighan, C - Tasha Hampshire (c), WD - Leah Kennedy, GD - Ella Bowen , GK - Tuainie Keenan. Substitues; Sally Smith, Vicky Burgess, Iam Thomas, Heloise Wormleighton.