Narrabri Netball Association hosts Ronald McDonald House fundraiser

Narrabri Netball Association hosted a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House on Saturday during round nine of the winter season at Bev Burrows Courts.

‘Blue Day’ saw the local netball community come together to raise money for and also gather donations of important items to support the charity.

There were some creative costumes and painted faces, and NNA president Tracey Tomlinson said that it was an enjoyable day from start to finish.

“It was really well-supported, and it was a fun day,” Tomlinson said.

“We had a lot of people who made donations and also a lot of the teams turned up with something blue on.

“Some went to the extreme and then others just did something subtle.

“One team all wore tie-dyed socks and one team wore blue ribbons braided through their hair, and there was a team that wore blue headbands.

“It was really good.”

Erin Barton and Kelly Herden.

Tomlinson said that there was more than $1000 raised in gift vouchers for Ronald McDonald House, and a lot of other important items were donated as well.

She thanked everyone involved who helped make the day a great success, especially those who donated money, gift cards or grocery items.

Round nine of the A-grade, B-grade and under-11/12 competitions was contested on the day, as were under-9/10 round eight matches.

In A-grade, defending champions Tourist Tornadoes extended their run at the top of the table with a 38-19 win against All Nets.

The match was the Tornadoes’ first since June as they had the round eight bye straight out of the school holiday break. They continued where they left off as they scored their seventh win from as many matches to move to 14 points.

Second-placed Fever remained two points behind the Tornadoes after it beat third-placed side The Flames 41-27.

That result saw Fever rise to 12 points and The Flames stay on 10, still four points clear of All Nets.

Fifth-placed Hail Mary’s had the bye in round nine, while Fever 2.0 fell from sixth to seventh after it forfeited against Pharmacy Flamingos.

The Flamingos are now sixth, level on four points with Hail Mary’s and Fever 2.0 and just two points behind All Nets.

Matilda Currey (The Flames) defending Angie Knox (Fever).

The two top-ranked teams in the B-grade comp were also victorious on Saturday as Hairy GOATs outscored Blue Diamonds 40-9, and The Golfie Grubs beat Hot Shots 37-25.

They both moved to 16 points after scoring their eighth victories of the season, now four clear of third-placed Hot Shots, and the Hairy GOATs are still ranked first on for and against difference.

Rounding out the top four are Baxter Babes as they joined Hot Shots on 12 points with a 41-26 win over Firebirds.

The other fixture saw Wilga Warriors forfeit their match against Wrecking Ballers.

Ranked fifth to eighth in the B-grade competition following round nine are Firebirds (8), Wrecking Ballers (4), Wilga Warriors (2) and the Blue Diamonds (2).

Under-11/12 division ladder leaders C and W Firebirds continued their run at the top when they downed the third-placed Giants 19-8.

The Firebirds moved to 14 points and are now four points clear of fellow Wee Waa team, the Namoi Cotton Thunderbirds, which had they bye in round nine.

Giants remained on six points after their loss and are now just one point ahead of the fourth-placed Swifts, which had an 11-all draw against Lightning on Saturday.

That result saw Lightning earn its first point of the campaign.

Two close games were contested in the eighth round of the under-9/10 campaign as Rubies beat Diamonds 5-4 and Sapphires edged out Valley Vixens 6-5.

Rubies moved to 12 points at the top of the table following their sixth win in eight games, and then ranked second to fourth are Diamonds (10), Sapphires (8) and Valley Vixens (2).

Stella Laws (Baxter Babes) scans the court for someone to pass to.

This Saturday’s round 10 fixtures are as follows:

A-grade – All Nets v Fever (court two), The Flames v Hail Mary’s (court three), Tourist Tornadoes v Fever 2.0 (court four).

Pharmacy Flamingos have the bye.

B-grade – Wilga Warriors v Golfie Grubs (court one), Hairy GOATs v Baxter Babes (court six), Wrecking Ballers v Blue Diamonds (court seven), Hot Shots v Firebirds (court eight).

Under-11/12 – Giants v Lightning (court two), Swifts v Namoi Cotton Thunderbirds (court six).

C and W Firebirds have the bye.

Under-9/10 (round nine) -Diamonds v Sapphires (court seven), Valley Vixens v Rubies (court eight).