Teenage netballers celebrate state championship win

BALLINA Netball Association’s under-17 team has claimed a coveted NSW State Age Championship division title after overcoming some of the state’s top teams.

The team was crowned overall champion on points in Division Two after a three-day carnival in Sydney.

Coach Penny Williams said the title was the reward for months of hard work and dedication from a talented group of players.

“There was definitely an expectation, but actually executing what we went down there to do was the main thing,” Williams said.

“I’m really pleased with how the girls went. They’ve worked hard all season, particularly on our court structures and the way we play.

“The girls switch on and play together as a team. They’re determined, they’re scrappy and they fight for every ball.”

The team arranged additional games in Ballina’s competitive Thursday night competition to gain valuable match practice in the lead-up to the championships.

The achievement is significant given the challenges faced by regional teams competing against associations with much larger player pools and greater access to elite development pathways.

“It’s hard for us to get the match play we need up here on the Far North Coast, so we’ve had to be creative with our preparation,” Williams said.

After falling short against Gosford, the team appeared destined for the runner-up position and faced a must-win clash against Bellingen.

Williams said the players produced some of their best netball of the tournament when it mattered most.

“It was really good teamwork, supporting each other and backing each other up,” she said.

“It wasn’t until the presentation that we found out we’d actually won, so it was all very exciting.”

Williams paid tribute to assistant coach Rebecca Scott and team manager Corinne Cribb for their support throughout the successful campaign.

She was also full of praise for the leadership shown by senior players Amalia Anderson, Asha Ledingham, Sofie Formaggin and Mia McIntosh throughout the tournament.

“Those girls really held the team together through their leadership and positivity,” Williams said.

“We definitely have the talent here and hopefully this is just the start of bigger things to come.”