Last month saw Laerskool Ermelo’s netball contingent competing across both A- and B-team categories at the Gert-Sibande District play-offs held at Ligbron.
The A-team finals took place on 24 May 2025, followed by the B-team fixtures on 31 May. Six squads—U/11 A, U/12 A, U/13 A, U/11 B, U/12 B and U/13 B—took to the courts, showcasing determination and skill against schools from across the region.
- U/11 A secured two wins (11–5 over TP Stratten; 10–8 against EEPS) alongside defeats to L/S Secunda (6–17), L/S Standerton (8–16) and L/S Trichardt (10–11), to claim 6th place.
- U/11 B enjoyed an unbeaten start with draws against Oranjegloed (6–6) and Goedehoop (5–5), plus a 10–2 win over Pionier. A 5–14 loss to JJ van der Merwe was followed by a strong 13–2 victory over TP Stratten, earning them 5th place.
- U/12 A recorded two victories (8–6 vs. TP Stratten; 10–3 vs. EEPS) but narrowly missed out on higher rankings after losses to L/S Goedehoop (8–13), L/S Secunda (3–18) and JJ van der Merwe (12–14), finishing 6th overall.
- U/12 B mirrored that 5th-place finish, edging TP Stratten 8–6, overpowering EEPS 11–5 and Kruinpark 8–7, despite close defeats to Standerton (7–9) and JJ van der Merwe (5–10).
- U/13 A overcame L/S Trichardt 12–7 but struggled against stronger opposition—dropping matches to Standerton (6–13), Pionier (12–14), JJ van der Merwe (7–23) and Goedehoop (3–15)—and concluded the day in 9th position.
- U/13 B delivered the tournament’s standout win, routing Jeugkrag 20–0, and added victories over TP Stratten (13–8) and Goedehoop (9–7). Drawn with Secunda (8–8) and narrow losses to Standerton (7–13) and JJ van der Merwe (9–11) saw them secure a commendable 4th spot.
Laerskool Ermelo’s coaches and players take pride in several hard-fought wins and the resilience shown throughout both weekends. The district results lay a strong foundation for the remainder of the season, and the school community looks forward to cheering on these young athletes as they continue to develop their game.