Barellan and District Netball Association are flying high after recently enjoying brilliant results at the NSW State Age Championships.
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The under 12 team went into the competition on the back of a very successful representative season being undefeated by all teams in their same age category.
Under the careful guidance of coach Georgia Fuller, this would continue over the championships with the team finishing convincing division three state champions.
Fuller was proud as punch of the team.
“Whilst the team are very strong throughout the court, it was great to see them step up to the pressure of State Age when they are still so young,” Fuller said.
“Ít's the first win at state for BDNA. The club has come close in the past, so gaining this win and heading into division two next year is positive for the furture of netball in the area.”
Fuller’s committment to Barellan sees her travelling hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometres each month to coach her representative side and also play with Barellan Two Blue Netball Club while living in Sydney during the week.
The under 13 team, coached by Carolyn Burgess, and assisted by Jessie McDermott, worked extremely hard in preparation for State Age, and all the effort was rewarded with a strong performances on the court.
The team finished fifth overall, which Burgess was thrilled with. The team managed to defeat, or draw with second and third placed teams, and only lose by two goals to the overall winners. The team also had the highest goal tally in division three.
Under 14 coach Jodie Landy, assisted by Renae Rawle, said her team had a very successful State Age in division three.
''There were five players join this team that had never previously played representative netball before this year,” Landy said.
“This was really put on display on the last day when the team played the top three sides and played some brilliant netball, coming away with very close results.”
The under 15 side, coached by Karen Conlan and assisted by Bridgette Keely, came out firing in division two, and continued the intensity over the three days. The girls finished equal second beating teams from major centres like City of Sydney, Parramatta and Campbelltown.
The under 17 team competed in division two a few weeks earlier at the NSW State Championships and finished a very close fourth place against teams from major centres including Western Suburbs, Coffs Harbour and Bathurst.
Coach Rosemary Clark was thrilled with the team's performance and results over the representative season, which included coming runners up in division one Regional League, and winning division two at Wagga Wagga Represenative Carnival. This success certainly inspired the younger teams to strive for greatness when they headed off to State Age a few weeks later.
BDNA president Karen Conlan hopes to earn a shot at the championship division next year.
“With the combined success of the under 15 and under 17 teams, this puts BDNA in the position to possibly compete in the championship division for under 17's next year,” Conlan said.
“This will make them the only only regional team in NSW apart from Wagga Wagga Netball Association to do so.
“To have a team compete at this level requires extreme commitment from the club, coaches and players. But it is such an exciting opportunity for young netballers far and wide to compete against the very best teams in NSW.”
BDNA said it could not have achieved these amazing results without it's talented players and dedicated coaching staff, plus the many more that contribute off the court.
BDNA said it is very grateful to the team managers, primary carer's, executive members and umpires like Michelle Burden who all volunteer their time. They also thanked parents, carers, fundraising committee and to GS & BD Electrics and Narrandera Showcase Jewellers for their major sponsorship, along with all the other sponsors that contribute to the success of the association.