Bermuda’s netballers will depart today for New York, where the Longtails will play a three-match international series with the United States Flying Eagles in Brooklyn this weekend.

It will be the second trip for the team in three weeks following their participation at the Netball Europe Open in Aberdeen, Scotland in mid-May. The 12-member team for this trip has just two changes from the Scotland trip with Antonia Holder and Ebonie Cox (née Burgess), coming in. Cox missed the trip to Scotland as it clashed with her recent wedding, but her return to the team gives them an extra attacking option.

Coach Ilze Gideons, who accompanied the team to Scotland, is pleased with the way the team performed and is looking for more of the same with Holder and Cox bringing some experience to the young team.

“The girls did an amazing job in Scotland, a lot of global noise and when the girls came back people would stop them in the street,” Gideons said following a final practice match last evening against a local select team at Saltus gym. “While I was in the UK I extended my trip because the girls did so well that coaches and presidents of other countries wanted to connect with me to see what they can do to help Bermuda. The girls performed really well, especially after being away from international [competition] for four years.”

Gideons, born in South Africa, has knowledge of netball in the US as she resides in Harlem, New York. “The majority of the [US] team, as I understand, is based in Miami, a lot of Caribbean-style playing,” she revealed.

“Last year’s team, I think, was fully Caribbean so I think the girls are familiar with that as they have played against other countries in the Caribbean. They have a little bit of exposure now after playing in Scotland against four different countries.

“They are definitely better prepared, our goal is to play eight games just to start the ranking process [to qualify for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia].

“They did very well in Scotland and hopefully they will move forward from there. I believe that they can.”

The Bermuda team, again captained by Dominique Richardson, will play against the US tomorrow and Saturday, before returning home on Sunday.

Bermuda will play their first match on Friday evening before taking on the US in two more games on Saturday at 9.30am and 4.30pm.

Squad Dominque Richardson (captain), Karlandra Smith (vice captain), Antonia Holder, Arkeita Fubler, Asante Chapman, Ayanna Wolffe, Danielle Raynor, Demiqua Daniels, Ebonie Cox, Jahtuere Trott, Micah Pond, Talia Lucas.