Loughborough Echo

All change as the Sapphires are now the Warriors

- By Pete Warrington peter.warrington@trinitymir­ror.com

CHARNWOOD Sapphires have merged with Rutland Rockets to form a new club which will run under the name of Charnwood Rutland Warriors.

The move has been hailed as a big step forward by one of the club’s main coaches Samantha Griffin and comes after the club lost its place in the National League after just one season in May.

Griffin said: “After coming down from the national league last season we are determined to rebuild to get back in to the national league and recognised we did not have enough talented players coming through the club.”

With Griffin also a coach at Rutland Rockets, one of the top junior clubs in the East Midlands, it was decided there would be benefits in merging the two clubs to create a performanc­e pathway right through to the top levels of netball.

New sponsors are on board, with the club’s 1st and 2nd team backed by The Nottingham Building Society in partnershi­p with Harrison Murray Estate Agents and The George & Dragon in Thringston­e, while the U16 and U14 sides have been sponsored by Barwood Homes.

Griffin said: “We now have an excellent performanc­e pathway for players as well as retaining our developmen­t pathway for those just wanting to play for fun. “These pathways are run across Leicesters­hire with venues in Loughborou­gh and Rutland.

“We have eight teams playing in the Leicester adult league, five in Loughborou­gh league, four in the Leicester junior league, the 1st team in East Midlands Div 1, the 2nd team in East Midlands Div 2, two U16 teams in East Midlands U16 league and an U14 team in East Midlands U14 league.”

The Charnwood 1st team started their bid to return to the national league with a 45-29 win over Lincoln City and Griffin is confident for the season ahead.

“We are aiming to get back into the national league within the next two years as well as hoping to qualify our U16s for national finals. It could be a big year ahead.”

 ??  ?? The Charnwood Rutland Warriors 1st team: ready for the new season.
The Charnwood Rutland Warriors 1st team: ready for the new season.

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