It was an experience that Dubai AllStars team will not want to forget after their aspiring female players tested themselves against England’s Under-19 national rounders side in a friendly match last week.
For more than two weeks, the hosts have been preparing for this exhibition match, having picked a strong 12-person squad from select Dubai schools during the trial sessions.
With players ranging between the age of 12 and 18, the All Stars were clearly not fazed by the occasion when they came up against the European outfit at Dubai English Speaking College.
With good home support, the girls put on impressive performances, with Elizabeth Forshaw top-scoring for her side with four points.
Despite Forshaw’s brave show, the England players showed why they are ranked among the best in their country, winning the game comfortably by 21-11.5 points.
Suzanne Ryan, coach of Dubai All-Stars team who organised the game, was delighted by how her team played.
“It was an amazing experience for the girls,” said Ryan, who played for England before teaching at GEMS Wellington International School.
“They absolutely loved it. To play against an international squad in Dubai doesn’t happen every week and parents were extremely proud and happy to see their children be part of this experience. As one of the coaches, I was equally impressed by how they played and really gave England a difficult time.”
She added: “I knew there are some really good players in Dubai and thought it would be a good way to play against an international team and raise the profile of roundsers in the UAE because netball is still quite popular.
“It would be lovely to keep the team together and perhaps include more girls from other cities like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah as I really want to promote how good rounders is in the UAE.”
It was the second time a fixture of this kind was played after it was first held in Dubai in 2011. But Ryan hopes there are more opportunities for England to visit the UAE in the future.
“England were on a week-long training camp and it was good time for them to gel as a team since their trials were only in October. With their season starting every May, I hope they can visit again in the future because it’s a good way to test themselves against school children,” added Ryan.