FOUR years of toil has paid off for Gunnedah Netball’s 15 years side.
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The team finished as division three runners-up at the recent Netball NSW State Age Championships on the south coast.
“I am so proud of what they have achieved,” coach Nerieda Ewington said.
The side’s rise through the representative ranks started when the players were aged just 12. That year the team finished fifth in division four.
As reward for the good result, Netball NSW promoted the side to division three the following year.
In 2014, they placed seventh followed by a 10th placing in 2015.
This year’s result was the best yet and second only to 2016 champs Ballina, who were unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Going into the championships, the team was quietly confident of a top-five finish and was placed fourth heading into the last day on equal points with Tamworth and Nelson Bay.
All games on day three were tough but the Gunnedah team finished with five wins from as many matches including a six-goal victory against Nelson Bay.
The coach highlighted the dedication of the players to achieve the strong result.
“This was four years in the making, with all the players committing so much time to training, fitness, carnivals and Saturday competition.
“I am so proud of what they have achieved and thankful for the support of all their parents.
“It is the best way to finish and hopefully they will continue playing in representative netball next year at the state championships.”
Gunnedah’s final scorecard read 14 wins and one draw. The side was one of four Gunnedah Netball Association (GNA) teams to compete.
In other results, Gunnedah 14s placed 11th, winning 10 games and one draw, Gunnedah 13s placed 17th, winning six games and one draw and Gunnedah 12s placed 19th, winning three games.
Tamworth Netball Association also had four teams take the court.
Their U15 Division Three side finished fourth with 12 wins, while their U13 Division Three team took home eighth place.
Tamworth also fielded teams in the U12 Division Three which came ninth as well as a team in the U14 Division Three which finished 16th.
More than 3300 athletes contested over 5400 matches across the three days, with more than 83,000 goals scored.