A-grade thriller headlines Narrabri Netball Association grand final day | PHOTOS

Narrabri Netball Association’s winter campaign wrapped up in style on Saturday afternoon as one of the most epic A-grade grand finals ever played at the Bev Burrows Courts brought the season to a conclusion in gripping fashion.

Namoi Mii Mii Memorial were crowned this year’s champions after outscoring the Tourist Tornadoes 55-53 in double overtime.

The two sides were locked at 47-all at full-time following four 15-minute quarters, which saw them play a 10-minute extra time period. They both scored six goals each to finish all square at 53-all and force another overtime, during which the first team to establish a two-goal lead would win the contest.

Namoi Mii Mii Memorial struck first to make it 54-53 before goal attack Angie Knox scored the winning goal to make the final score 55-53 as her side celebrated a minor and major premiership double.

It was a disappointing loss for the Tornadoes, who were searching for a third championship in four seasons, but they were still proud to have helped make the grand final one of the best that the Bev Burrows Courts has ever seen.

Namoi Mii Mii Memorial had led 12-11 at the quarter-time break and then outscored Tourist 13 goals to 10 in the second quarter to enter the half-time break ahead 25-21.

Tourist had narrowed the deficit to three goals by three-quarter-time after scoring 14 goals to Namoi’s 13 in the third quarter, and they then registered 12 more goals in the final term while limiting Namoi to nine.

That saw the game end up 47-all and eventually go into double overtime before Namoi Mii Mii Memorial got the job done.

NNA’s other 2025 champions were Hot Shots, Wee Waa Mavericks, Ag Econ Thunderbirds and Hutcheon & Pearce Swifts, as all five teams that finished on top of their respective ladders this season got the job done on grand final day.

Hot Shots took on Goal Diggers in the B-grade decider and prevailed 39-19. The champions produced consistent netball throughout the contest as they scored nine goals in the first quarter and then 10 goals in each of the other three, while limiting Goal Diggers to five in the first, six in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth.

Wee Waa Mavericks were the most dominant grand final winners on the day as they outscored Wee Waa Weaponz 65-25 in the C-grade decider. A dominant first quarter saw the Mavericks establish some serious ascendancy as they went into the first break ahead 17-3, and they claimed the following three quarters 19-6, 17-5 and 22-9, respectively, to run away to a 40-point victory.

The two junior grand final winners were also Wee Waa sides as Ag Econ Thunderbirds and Hutcheon & Pearce Swifts were too good on the day.

The Thunderbirds challenged the Giants in the under-11-13 decider and won 18-13.

Giants came out firing in that match and led 5-3 at quarter-time before the Thunderbirds bounced back in the second term and outscored their opponents seven goals to two to lead 10-7 at half-time. The Thunderbirds then won the third quarter five goals to three to enter the fourth and final quarter ahead 15-10 before both sides scored three goals each in the fourth.

The Swifts met Rubies in the first game of the day and prevailed 9-3.

A tight first quarter saw those two sides go into the first break at 1-1, but Swifts took control in the second quarter as they outscored Rubies four goals to none to lead 5-1 at half-time. A tighter third quarter saw Swifts score three goals and Rubies register two goals as the score became 8-3 at the final break, and Swifts scored the only goal of the fourth quarter to prevail 9-3.

Narrabri Netball Association’s 2025 winter season A-grade competition grand final winners, Namoi Mii Mii Mirri - Callie Lawler, Imogen Conomos, Summer Fernance, Mackenzie Knox, Velvet Craigie, Asher Kelly, Rya Knox and Angie Knox. Namoi Mii Mii Mirri defeated Tourist Tornadoes in a double overtime thriller. Narrabri Netball Association’s 2025 winter season A-grade competition grand final winners, Namoi Mii Mii Mirri - Callie Lawler, Imogen Conomos, Summer Fernance, Mackenzie Knox, Velvet Craigie, Asher Kelly, Rya Knox and Angie Knox. Namoi Mii Mii Mirri defeated Tourist Tornadoes in a double overtime thriller.

A-grade competition grand final runners-up, Tourist Tornadoes - back, Demi Winter, Bree Smith, Hannah Hall, Penny Towns, front, Emily Hartnett, Chloe Hope, Clare Jenson and Maddi Condon. A-grade competition grand final runners-up, Tourist Tornadoes - back, Demi Winter, Bree Smith, Hannah Hall, Penny Towns, front, Emily Hartnett, Chloe Hope, Clare Jenson and Maddi Condon.

B-grade competition grand final winners, Hot Shots - back, Zara Watson, Kellyann Earl, Elsie Campbell, Taryn Kirk, Emma Redfern, front, Jayde Goodhew, Tess Redfern, Holly Anderson, Maya Watson and Georgia Herden B-grade competition grand final winners, Hot Shots - back, Zara Watson, Kellyann Earl, Elsie Campbell, Taryn Kirk, Emma Redfern, front, Jayde Goodhew, Tess Redfern, Holly Anderson, Maya Watson and Georgia Herden

B-grade competition grand final runners-up, Goal Diggers - back, Mel Bramley, Toni Laws, Alissa Alexander-Dawson, Stacey Dunn, front, Jas Wheeler, Julianna Hopman, Erica Maslen and Kailyn Chater. B-grade competition grand final runners-up, Goal Diggers - back, Mel Bramley, Toni Laws, Alissa Alexander-Dawson, Stacey Dunn, front, Jas Wheeler, Julianna Hopman, Erica Maslen and Kailyn Chater.

C-grade competition grand final winners, Wee Waa Mavericks - back, Sophie Crutcher, Edee Towns, Quinn Towns, Marlee Schwager, front, coach Rebecca Crutcher, Taiykeah Lamb, Celia Galagher and Leilani Smith. C-grade competition grand final winners, Wee Waa Mavericks - back, Sophie Crutcher, Edee Towns, Quinn Towns, Marlee Schwager, front, coach Rebecca Crutcher, Taiykeah Lamb, Celia Galagher and Leilani Smith.

C-grade competition grand final runners-up, Wee Waa Weaponz - back, Sarah Coutts-Smith, Emma Dixon, Vienna Eather, coach Lucy Humphries, front, Tallara Lamb, Tara Galagher, Demi-Renee Cruickshank and Layla Hamilton. C-grade competition grand final runners-up, Wee Waa Weaponz - back, Sarah Coutts-Smith, Emma Dixon, Vienna Eather, coach Lucy Humphries, front, Tallara Lamb, Tara Galagher, Demi-Renee Cruickshank and Layla Hamilton.

Under-11-13 competition grand final winners, Ag Econ Thunderbirds - back, Laycey Maxwell, Phoebe Willis, Lizzie Nel, Molly Wilson, Sophia Woolcock, Naiya Cochrane, front, Ebonie Hatton, Tabitha Shearer and Florence Melton. Under-11-13 competition grand final winners, Ag Econ Thunderbirds - back, Laycey Maxwell, Phoebe Willis, Lizzie Nel, Molly Wilson, Sophia Woolcock, Naiya Cochrane, front, Ebonie Hatton, Tabitha Shearer and Florence Melton.

Under-11-13 competition grand final runners-up, Giants - back, Marley Cunningham, Makaylie Mason, Chloe Holden, Lillian Davies, Zoe Malcolm, front, Natalie Anderson, Addison Lamb, Savannah Lawler, Casey Lamb and Andie Cunningham. Under-11-13 competition grand final runners-up, Giants - back, Marley Cunningham, Makaylie Mason, Chloe Holden, Lillian Davies, Zoe Malcolm, front, Natalie Anderson, Addison Lamb, Savannah Lawler, Casey Lamb and Andie Cunningham.

Under-9/10 competition grand final winners, Hutcheon & Pearce Swifts - back, Kaia Gratsounas, Kayley Edwards, Aggie Burke, Alexandrea Nel, Maggie Powell, coach Sarah Leitch, front, Camilla Kennedy, Ruby Head, Aaliyah Woodley and Annabel Kennedy. Under-9/10 competition grand final winners, Hutcheon & Pearce Swifts - back, Kaia Gratsounas, Kayley Edwards, Aggie Burke, Alexandrea Nel, Maggie Powell, coach Sarah Leitch, front, Camilla Kennedy, Ruby Head, Aaliyah Woodley and Annabel Kennedy.

Under-9/10 competition grand final runners-up, Rubies - back, Indi Jobson, Rosie Davies, Madelyn Luff, Stella Craig, Maddison Tucker, front, Sadie Craig, Harper Greentree, Nyah McConnell and Pip Gleeson. Under-9/10 competition grand final runners-up, Rubies - back, Indi Jobson, Rosie Davies, Madelyn Luff, Stella Craig, Maddison Tucker, front, Sadie Craig, Harper Greentree, Nyah McConnell and Pip Gleeson.

Player of the final Angie Knox. Player of the final Angie Knox.

Bree Smith. Bree Smith.

Clare Jensen and Asher Kelly Clare Jensen and Asher Kelly

Imogen Conomos. Imogen Conomos.

Penny Towns. Penny Towns.

Mackenzie Knox. Mackenzie Knox.

Rya Knox, Clare Jensen and Hannah Hall. Rya Knox, Clare Jensen and Hannah Hall.

Demi Winter. Demi Winter.

C-grade player of the final Celia Galagher. C-grade player of the final Celia Galagher.

The NNA’s 2025 representative convenor and 2026 president Nikki Connole told The Courier it was a fantastic day full of entertaining netball.

“It was a great day. Fantastic,” Connole said.

“There was some very competitive netball played and some close games.

“There was some good sportsmanship and everything went very smoothly.

“Our A-grade final went into extra time, and it was absolutely amazing.

“The umpires were really good all day. We had one come from Eastwood Ryde, his name was Paul Grundy, and we had Kim Brett, who has recently moved to Rowena. She did the A-grade final with Paul. Kim actually went down with an injury in the A-grade final, so we had to call on our reserve umpire, which was Lorna Gleeson.”

There were two presentations held at the Bev Burrows Courts on Saturday, which included one for the juniors after the under-11-13 match and another for the seniors after the A-grade contest.

This year’s club person of the year winner was incoming president Nikki Connole, who was commended by many players, officials and committee members for her efforts this year.

The NNA’s 2025 treasurer Lorna Gleeson told The Courier that Connole had well and truly stepped up this year.

“This last year has been kind of a transition for Narrabri Netball Association, with a lot of the old committee members stepping off, and Nikki has really stepped up, not just doing her role, but she pretty much took the helm and guided the whole association,” Gleeson said.

“She did a really amazing job.

“She has really grown as a committee member, as a person, and as a leader.

“Narrabri netball is in very safe hands with Nikki as the 2026 president.”

Connole said she was proud to have received the prestigious award.

“It feels very humbling really. It was very nice and a little bit emotional,” Connole said.

“Lorna did the presentation and spoke highly of me, which was really nice.”

The incoming NNA president said that all of this season’s award winners were well-deserved, and she made special mention of the 2025 Steph Stuart memorial trophy for junior sportsperson of the year winner, Elsie Barton.

“Elsie is just outstanding on and off the court, really,” Connole said.

“She just stands out because she really is an inspiration, and her sportsmanship is incredible.

“Winning or losing, she will help all of her teammates and she claps for the other team.

“She is also willing to help with umpiring, and her umpiring is fantastic.

“She’s always been outstanding, and it’s nice to be able to recognise her for that.”

A full list of award winners is as follows:

Junior presentation:
Under-9/10 player of the grand final – Maggie Powell (Swifts); under-11-13 player of the grand final – Laycey Maxwell (Thunderbirds); Helen Houguet memorial trophy for the junior goal aggregate – Thunderbirds, who scored 183 goals and conceded 93 to finish the season with a percentage of 200; Tracey Tomlinson junior umpire award – Edee Towns.

Senior presentation:
A-grade player of the grand final – Angie Knox (Namoi Mii Mii Memorial); B-grade player of the grand final – Maya Watson (Hot Shots); C-grade player of the grand final – Celia Galagher (Wee Waa Mavericks); Margaret Illingsworth memorial trophy for the senior goal aggregate – Tourist Tornadoes, who scored 463 goals and conceded 194 to finish the season with a percentage of 238.65; Steph Stuart memorial trophy for junior sportsperson of the year – Elsie Barton (Gyattastic); committee person of the year – Nikki Connole.