NNA’s under-15 and under-17 rep sides impress at Senior State Titles in Newcastle | PHOTOS

Narrabri Netball Association travelled to Newcastle in numbers on the long weekend as the under-15 and under-17 representative sides competed at Netball NSW’s 2023 Senior State Titles event.

Players, coaches, fans and officials enjoyed a weekend away at the coast and represented the association in superb style.

The event was run across three days as the NNA teams contested division four in their respective age groups.

There were 20 teams in the under-17s division and 18 in the under-15s, and each team played against all of its opponents once each across the three days.

NNA’s under-17s team played 19 games, including six on Saturday, seven on Sunday and six on Monday. The team featured players from both Narrabri and Wee Waa and was quite a young side as more than half of the players only turn 16 in 2023.

The Kerry Crutcher-coached side punched above its weight across the long weekend and finished seventh on the ladder after winning 11 games, drawing one and losing seven. Four of those seven losses were by a margin of just one point.

The under-15s side played 17 games, which included six on Saturday, six on Sunday and five on Monday. The Rod Kirk and Andrea Fernance-coached team finished the weekend in 13th place after winning six games, drawing one and losing 10.

Both teams ended the tournament with final-round wins and they both played some fantastic netball across the three days.

NNA president Tracey Tomlinson was thrilled with the way the Narrabri girls conducted themselves both on and off the court across the weekend.

“I think that both of our teams did themselves very proud,” Tomlinson said.

“On-court, they were a bit hot and cold at times and I’m pretty sure that their coaches would say that as well.

“But, having said that, on a whole, they did play really well.

“The one-point losses the under-17s had were the difference between us finishing seventh and fourth. Their defence was on song all weekend though.

“The under-15s did well as well. They didn’t have as many wins as they hoped, but I still think that they exceeded expectations.”

Narrabri Netball Association’s under-17s side at Netball NSW’s 2023 Senior State Titles event in Newcastle on Sunday - back, Emily Hartnett, Bella Suckling, Matilda Currey, Megan Crutcher, Callie Lawler, Bridie Russell, Kerry Crutcher (coach), front, Tracy McMullin (manager), Juliet Maxwell, Tayla Nott, Lily Campbell and Lisa Currey (assistant coach). Narrabri Netball Association’s under-17s side at Netball NSW’s 2023 Senior State Titles event in Newcastle on Sunday - back, Emily Hartnett, Bella Suckling, Matilda Currey, Megan Crutcher, Callie Lawler, Bridie Russell, Kerry Crutcher (coach), front, Tracy McMullin (manager), Juliet Maxwell, Tayla Nott, Lily Campbell and Lisa Currey (assistant coach).

Narrabri Netball Association’s under-15s side at Netball NSW’s 2023 Senior State Titles event in Newcastle on Sunday - back, Andrea Fernance (co-coach), Bella Bakhuis, Aleira Sunderland, Josie Harvey, Summer Fernance, Olivia Shields, Taryn Kirk, Rod Kirk (co-coach), front, Hattie Capp, Maxine O’Connor and Maya Watson. Narrabri Netball Association’s under-15s side at Netball NSW’s 2023 Senior State Titles event in Newcastle on Sunday - back, Andrea Fernance (co-coach), Bella Bakhuis, Aleira Sunderland, Josie Harvey, Summer Fernance, Olivia Shields, Taryn Kirk, Rod Kirk (co-coach), front, Hattie Capp, Maxine O’Connor and Maya Watson.

Josie Harvey stands tall in defence. Josie Harvey stands tall in defence.

Megan Crutcher launches a pass into the goal circle. Megan Crutcher launches a pass into the goal circle.

NNA president and life member Tracey Tomlinson, NNA treasurer and C-badged umpire Lorna Gleeson (who umpired at the event) and NNA rep co-ordinator and under-17s team coach Kerry Crutcher in Newcastle on Sunday. NNA president and life member Tracey Tomlinson, NNA treasurer and C-badged umpire Lorna Gleeson (who umpired at the event) and NNA rep co-ordinator and under-17s team coach Kerry Crutcher in Newcastle on Sunday.

Summer Fernance shoots. Summer Fernance shoots.

Narrabri Netball Association’s canteen co-ordinator Kate Bakhuis and registrar/life member Fiona McLachlan. Narrabri Netball Association’s canteen co-ordinator Kate Bakhuis and registrar/life member Fiona McLachlan.

Taryn Kirk searches for a teammate to pass to up-court. Taryn Kirk searches for a teammate to pass to up-court.

Under-15s coach Rod Kirk watches on proudly. Under-15s coach Rod Kirk watches on proudly.

Juliet Maxwell lines up a shot. Juliet Maxwell lines up a shot.

Tayla Nott fires off a pass. Tayla Nott fires off a pass.

Emily Hartnett flies high in defence. Emily Hartnett flies high in defence.

Maxine O’Connor throws a pass to a teammate. Maxine O’Connor throws a pass to a teammate.

Hattie Capp launches a long pass. Hattie Capp launches a long pass.

Two of the loudest and proudest fans at the event - Michelle O’Connor and Kym Capp. Two of the loudest and proudest fans at the event - Michelle O’Connor and Kym Capp.

Maya Watson throws a pass. Maya Watson throws a pass.

Aleira Sunderland shoots. Aleira Sunderland shoots.

Olivia Shields throws a pass. Olivia Shields throws a pass.

Lily Campbell throws a pass. Lily Campbell throws a pass.

Bella Suckling searches for a teammate to pass to. Bella Suckling searches for a teammate to pass to.

Bridie Russell throws a pass. Bridie Russell throws a pass.

Callie Lawler scans the court for a teammate to pass to. Callie Lawler scans the court for a teammate to pass to.

Matilda Currey shoots. Matilda Currey shoots.

Tomlinson thanked everyone who helped make the weekend a great success, especially under-17s coach Kerry Crutcher, assistant coach Lisa Currey and manager Tracy McMullin, and the under-15s co-coaches Rod Kirk and Andrea Fernance, and the side’s two managers Kristy Farris and Linda Watson.

Tomlinson was also appreciative of the efforts of NNA’s treasurer Lorna Gleeson, who umpired at the event. Gleeson is a C-badged umpire who is currently working towards her B-badge.

Tomlinson thought she did a quality job with the whistle across the three days.

“The umpires receive mentoring at State Titles, and Lorna’s feedback was very positive,” NNA’s president said.

“They gave her things to work on and when they came back the next time, they were quite impressed that she had implemented what they had told her to work on.”

NNA’s under-17s side has developed a reputation as a brilliant defensive team that is tough to beat and will never go down without a fight, and that was on show across the three days as all nine players impressed at the event.

They only let in 232 goals across the 19 games, which was less than four of the teams in the top six conceded, including champions Narrandera.

Coach Crutcher was extremely proud of her side’s efforts.

“They played really well,” she said.

“Our defence was consistent across the three days. Their determination and effort against some very accurate goal-shooting was great.

“Any time they had the opportunity to turn it over, they did.

“Our defence didn’t just come down to just our defensive three either. Especially in intense games, everyone across the whole court was solid in defence, applying pressure on the other teams, which forced turnovers.”

Crutcher said that a few lapses and some close losses denied the team the chance to finish as high as it had the potential to.

“We would have a good win, and then we found it hard to get back up again for the next game,” she said.

“We had a draw and four one-point losses, and if we jagged a few of them, we would have been really close to the top-three vicinity.

“Our final game was a win, though, which really ended the weekend on a high.”

The NNA’s under-17s side contested one of its one-point losses first up in round one on Saturday morning when it was edged out 16-15 by Quirindi.

It lost 26-11 to the Sapphire Coast in round two before bouncing back with a 12-11 win over Shoalhaven in round three.

The Narrabri girls suffered another one-point loss in round four as they went down 13-12 against Temora, but they finished the day on a high with two resounding victories as they beat Tumut 20-12 and Wollondilly16-5 in rounds five and six.

Narrabri then won five of its seven games on Sunday, starting with a 13-5 victory over Woolgoolga District in round seven.

The NNA girls then drew 16-all with Tumut in the eighth round before winning four in a row as they downed Blayney and District 14-10, Forbes 19-11, Gloucester 18-7 and Goulburn and District 17-14.

In their final game of the day on the second day of the tournament, they went down by just one point again as they lost 16-15 against Grafton in round 13.

The Narrabri girls went into day three determined to bounce back from that loss, and they did exactly that as they downed Gunnedah 13-1 in the 14th round of the tournament.

They then went down 10-9 against Marlin Coast and 15-7 against Mount Druitt before scoring an 18-15 round 17 victory against Armidale.

The Narrabri girls met the eventual champions, Narrandera, in round 18 and they lost 19-10 but bounced back again to win their final match of the event 22-10 over Parkes and District.

The under-15s team experienced a couple of hiccups in the lead-up to the 2023 State Titles, which included both sickness and injury.

Beth Farris missed out on the event due to injury and then Bella Bakhuis was ruled out for the remainder of the weekend after suffering an injury in the first game on day two, which meant that the side was down to just eight players for more than half of the tournament.

The way they persevered through it all and were able to power through impressed the side’s coach Rod Kirk.

“It’s the first time, because of COVID and the washout last year, they have ever played a three-day carnival,” Kirk said.

“We really didn’t have the best week leading in with a broken ankle and a shoulder injury a week out, and two also getting over COVID.

“The preparation wasn’t ideal, but they just didn’t give up the whole time. Their intensity from the first to the last game didn’t waver. That was a huge plus.

“We lost another girl after the first game on the second day with an MCL injury to her knee, so we only had one sub for the rest of the weekend.

“The girls’ commitment was just unbelievable.”

Narrabri’s under-15s campaign got off to a solid start with a 16-15 round one win on Saturday morning against Mount Druitt, and they were two from three after bouncing back from a 22-7 loss against Armidale with a 21-18 victory over Parkes and District.

They contested a 15-all draw with Port Stephens in round four but lost 17-13 to Sapphire Coast and 18-11 to Temora to end day one.

The Narrabri girls came out firing on Sunday as they scored massive wins in rounds seven and eight as they beat Tumut 23-7 and then downed West Wyalong 21-7.

The NNA side had a close 15-12 loss against Woolgoolga District in round nine and was then defeated 22-13 by Blayney and District.

The NNA girls won 11-9 in round 11 against Brunswick Byron, but they ended day two with a narrow 17-15 loss against Casino.

They started day three on Monday with another close contest in which they went down 14-12 to Cowra and District before they met the two top-ranked sides in rounds 14 and 15.

They lost those games 20-14 against Inverell and 21-11 against eventual champions Kurri Kurri.

Next up was a 17-10 loss against Leeton in round 16, but the NNA side ended the weekend in fine fashion with a 13-11 win over Lower Clarence in the 17th and final round.