Narrabri Netball players take on Junior State Titles

Narrabri Netball Association’s under-12s and under-13s representative teams travelled to Sydney earlier this month where they lined up at Netball NSW’s Junior State Titles in Liverpool City from Saturday, July 1 through to Monday, July 3.

During what was their first taste of a three-day carnival, the under-12s team competed in division three, finishing 15th on an 18-team ladder following four wins, two draws and 11 losses, and the under-13s team played in division four and ended up 18th on a 19-team ladder after winning one of their 18 games.

NNA president Tracey Tomlinson told The Courier that the travelling players, spectators, officials and NNA committee members had an brilliant weekend, and that all of the girls left Sydney as better players.

“It was a real learning curve for both teams. I could see vast improvements from all players across the weekend,” Tomlinson said.

“They showed flashes of brilliance as a team and individually as well.

“I think it’s a coup that we had a team in division three too.

“The girls had an absolute blast, especially at the Swifts game (at the Sydney Superdome, where the NSW Swifts won the 2023 Super Netball season preliminary final when they downed West Coast Fever 65-24 to set up a grand final showdown with the Adelaide Thunderbirds).

“They enjoyed interacted with each other over the weekend.

Under-12: Narrabri Netball Association’s under-12s representative team at Netball NSW’s 2023 Junior State Titles – back, Lexie Fernance, Jedda Cochrane, Maecee Smith, Lexie Horne, Elsie Barton, Layla Hamilton, Isabel Sunderland, Tara Galagher, Ruby Currey and Winnie Winston-Smith.

“Everyone who travelled down had a really good time.”

Tomlinson thanked the coaches and managers of each team, who included Lisa and Matilda Currey, Erin Barton and Kelly Herden.

The NNA president also thanked the committee’s representative convenor Kerry Crutcher, who travelled down to Sydney to help both teams across the three days.

NNA’s under-13s team had a tough start to its Junior State Titles weekend as it went down 26-2 against Lower Clarence in game one on the Saturday morning, but it bounced back to beat Gunnedah 10-7 in game two.

While the side was unable to win again, it still put in some impressive performances and managed to push other teams right through to full-time, including during a 14-11 loss against Grafton on the Sunday and during a 9-8 loss against Scone on the Monday.

The under-12s team also endured a difficult start to the 2023 event as it was defeated 21-6 by Mount Druitt in game one.

It went down 10-8 against Ballina in a far more competitive game two, and then found form in game three with a 12-11 nail-biting victory against its Parramatta Auburn opponents.

The Narrabri 12s downed Scone 9-6 later on in the day on Saturday, and then on Sunday edged out Woy Woy Peninsula 12-11 and drew 12-all with Eurobodalla.

On the third and final day, the NNA girls had a 10-8 victory over Kurri Kurri and finished off the event with an 8-all draw against Macleay in their 17th and final game.