Trio of Bath sporting scholars help England win bronze at 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar
University of Bath sporting scholars Sophie Kelly, Jayda Pechova and Alanna Pullen helped England win bronze at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
Business student Kelly, a Bill Whiteley Scholar, and Sports Performance duo Pechova and Pullen, supported by Trendell and Alumni Fund Scholarships respectively, were part of a 12-strong squad that matched the Roses’ achievement from the last World Youth Cup in 2017.
England made smooth progress through the round-robin stage, topping Pool C with victories over Wales (65-28), Tonga (72-25) and Jamaica (64-33), before defeating Scotland 64-33 in the quarter-finals.
Sophie Kelly shoots during the semi-final against New Zealand.
Jayda Pechova in action against Scotland. PICTURES: World Netball / Netball World Cup
Alanna Pullen on the ball during England’s nail-biting semi-final against New ZealandThat set up a last-four showdown with New Zealand, who had won five of their previous six World Youth Cup meetings with England and continued that streak but only just as they edged a 51-49 battle.
England rallied themselves for the bronze-medal match, beating South Africa 55-35 to secure their place on the podium.
Chemistry student Matilda Smyth helped Scotland place sixth, while Management student Dani Carr was part of the Wales squad that finished 10th overall.
Zoe Maynard – who, like Smyth, is part of the Team Bath Netball Player Development Programme (PDP) – and Immi Shaw, who accesses Team Bath’s Athlete Development Centre in Bath, were in the Northern Ireland squad that placed 17th.
Visit teambath.com/netball to find out more about combining study and netball at the University of Bath.
Top picture: Jayda Pechova (left), Sophie Kelly (second from left) and Alanna Pullen (right) celebrate after receiving their bronze medals. CREDIT: World Netball / Netball World Cup.
