Tean Valley are ready to test themselves against the best theWest Midlands can offer after finally breaking Newcastle Town A'snetball stranglehold to lift the Joyce Haynes Tournament 2010.
The Newcastle outfit - unbeaten in the top flight of the Stoke-on-Trent League for four successive seasons - were also reigningJoyce Haynes holders and had retained the trophy since 2005.
However, Tean Valley finally overcame their Newcastle hoodoo todump their rivals out in the semi-final - and in the process avengelast year's defeat at the same stage - before triumphing 6-4 overNorth Staffs to lift the cup.
Captain Becky Gerrard rated Tean Valley's tournament success hergreatest achievement in 10 years at the Moorlands club.
"It's massive for the team," she said. "I'd just like to thankeveryone involved for their hard work."
Crack Staffordshire outfit Newcastle A posed the biggest threatto Tean's cup ambitions. But Gerrard also praised North Staffs forgiving her side a run for their money in the final.
She added: "We had literally two minutes between the semi-finaland final so really had to pull ourselves together. We went into thefinal quite confident, but North Staffs played out of their skin."
Gerrard is now targeting qualification to the West MidlandsRegional League. Tean Valley will be bidding to earn their WestMidlands spurs in a qualification competition in 10 days' time.
And the skipper says it is imperative Tean Valley continue tomove forward if the club is to retain its talented youngsters. "Wehave some talented under-16s now moving into senior netball," addedGerrard. "They already play at a regional level so we need to havethat progression.
Tean Valley founder Ursula Smith, pictured left, also hopes cupsuccess plus entry into West Midlands Regional League will help keepthe present crop of talented youngsters at the club.
She said: "Newcastle have enjoyed a monopoly on the league andcup as the best team in the area, they can always attract the bestplayers.
"Qualifying for the regional league won't be easy, but with BeckyGerrard as captain this is probably our best chance.
"It was a tremendous achievement to win the cup and hopefully wewill build on this success."
Tean Valley finished fourth in the 2009/10 Stoke-on-Trent League,behind Harriers, Review Ladies and champions Newcastle - who featureex-Tean Valley star Jo Barnett and former Cheadle High ace JulieUnwin.
The club had led the way in January and Smith is confident Teanwill soon challenge Newcastle for the top honour.
She said: "We are still a very young team, but these girls havegrown up playing together and hopefully their best is in front ofthem.
"We have a very good team coming out of the under-16 age groupand it is important for the club to progress so we can keep themhere."
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