The Northern NSW Rangers are competing in the Koori Games this weekend. (front from left) Miah O’Sullivan, Nikki Reid, Yolanda Handsaker, Paris Knox, Emma Gifford, (middle from left) Tjarnah Williams, Lakita Hore, Serena Waters, Sara Westman (back from left)) Phoebe Cave, Tahlia Tiberi, Jannari Flett, Taia Tiberi, Scarlett Leach. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 261012GOB01
THE Northern NSW/Tamworth Indigenous Netball Squad Rangers (TINS) will continue their 2012 Koori Games Netball Knockout campaign at Newcastle today after a big day yesterday.
After bussing it down there in the morning, they played the first five of about 15 games they’ll play over the two days.
The Rangers are fielding two sides – a 14/15yrs team in the U15s competition and a younger 12/13yrs team.
They’ll contest the U13s division, and is more of a development side.
“For many of the girls, this will be their first time at representative level, so as coach I am using this event as a lead-up to the nationals next season,” Rangers coach Kathleen Gifford said.
They have been training for about four months.
“We took the older girls away two weekends ago to the Oceania Cup in Sydney,” Gifford said.
“In that, we were playing mainly Sydney and Central Coast teams.”
The girls did well finishing fourth, and Gifford was expecting them to do pretty well this weekend.
“Our game plan is to do the basics correctly, follow through with the ball and some strong one-on-one defence,” Gifford said.
That’s what they’ve been working on in their preparations.
The majority of the players are from Tamworth but there is a regional influence with players from Inverell, Glen Innes and Armidale as well.
The games will also serve as a selection trial for the NSW Echidnas.
Last year the Rangers had great success, with Mikayla Gardner and Yolanda Handsaker in line for the Echidnas and Handsaker going on to play for the Australian side at the nationals.
The year before, Zoe Khan and Emma Gifford made the Echidnas squad.
Their first game is at 8.30am today.