Warrandyte Netball Club celebrates an exciting autumn season
With the end of the autumn netball season upon us, it is time to reflect on an action-packed and exciting year so far at Warrandyte Netball Club (WNC).
Children are our future and WNC is proud to have run Woolworths NetSetGO (NSG) during school terms one and two and will continue to offer it during terms three and four.
NSG is netball’s official program for kids aged five to ten and to increase participation and maximise accessibility for everyone, we have reduced our NSG club fees to zero for the remainder of 2024.
Thanks to our tireless volunteer Amanda, we have run school clinics at three local primary schools, with two more to come at the beginning of term three.
These clinics are a great way to introduce both girls and boys to the great game of netball and for them to learn some fundamental skills.
Our mothers and daughters were strongly represented at Manningham Netball’s Mother’s Day round, with four WNC teams competing and helping to raise over $4,000 for breast cancer research.
The Falcons team formed after last year’s Mother’s Day round continued to play this season, as did our Tuesday night social team and it looks like we will have a second Tuesday night team for the spring season.
Netball is not just a sport for girls – we have seen how much the boys enjoy it during our school clinics – so we are trying to put together a mixed netball team to play on either Monday or Wednesday evenings.
WNC fielded two 9/U and two 11/U teams in Manningham Netball’s autumn competition with all four teams featuring some NetSetGO graduates and those who first experienced netball at a school clinic.
The 9/U and 11/U sections do not play finals and instead play an extra two rounds, finishing on grand final day and getting a taste of its drama, tension, and pressure.
11 of our teams were eligible to play finals and nine made it to the semi-finals, with five winning and making it through to the grand finals held on Saturday, June 22.
The first grand final of the day featured our 13/U WNC Wallabies who went into the section 3 game as huge underdogs.
Although the Wallabies had finished second on the ladder, East Doncaster Netball Club (EDNC) had dominated the competition, going undefeated throughout the season and finishing on top with a percentage of 540.
The Wallabies were not to be intimidated and incredibly led by two goals at three quarter time.
EDNC outscored the Wallabies in the final quarter, with the result being announced as an EDNC victory with a score of 10-9.
After several minutes of hugs, tears, and lolly eating, the Wallabies were called back on to court to be told that 10-9 was incorrect – the score was actually 10 all.
With no time to compose themselves before the start of extra time, the Wallabies quickly conceded several goals and never recovered, losing 15-11.
Although they lost, it was a grand final performance to be proud of and was capped off with WNC’s Grace being awarded Best on Court.
Next up were the 15/U Brolgas who had finished on top of the ladder in section 3 but had lost their last meeting against their Donvale grand final opponent.
It was always going to be a close game, with Donvale holding a two-goal advantage at three quarter time.
The Brolgas outscored Donvale in the final quarter and with scores tied and the buzzer about to sound, it looked like another game was headed to extra time.
Unfortunately for the Brolgas, Donvale shot the winning goal with just 10 seconds remaining and won the premiership 19-18.
It was a frustrating end to what had been a wonderful season for the Brolgas – a team made up of experienced players and some who had only started playing this season.
The third WNC grand final of the day featured the 17/U WNC Kookaburras in section 2 against Donvale.
They had finished second below Donvale and lost to them in their previous encounter, so it was always going to be a tough game for the Kookaburras.
They played their hearts out, but Donvale were too strong and won 22-6.
Congratulations to WNC’s Carys who was awarded Best on Court.
Perhaps foreshadowing what was to come, the 17/U WNC Magpies warmed up for their section 1 reserve grand final under the watchful eye of a friendly and sociable magpie.
The Magpies had finished lower on the ladder than their Deep Creek opponents but had beaten them in their only matchup of the season, so it was likely to be a competitive game.
In a fitting tribute to their self-appointed mascot, the Magpies played one of their best games of the year and won 32-20, with WNC’s Norah being awarded Best on Court.
In WNC’s final game of the day, the WNC Eagles played Deep Creek in the Open A reserve grand final.
The Eagles were a new team for 2024 and the young players juggled VCE studies, part-time jobs, and netball to form an enthusiastic and entertaining on-court combination.
Their shooters were on form, with Jess and Taylah hardly missing a shot, but the Eagles were up against a strong Deep Creek team and lost a high-scoring game 54-38.
Thank you to all our players, coaches, volunteers and of course families for all the hard work you put in over the season. Enjoy the break and we will see you back on court for the spring season in just a few weeks!
If you or someone you know may be interested in playing netball, please get in touch with us info@warrandytenetball.org.
It does not matter what age or level of experience, we would love to see you come down and join the friendly and welcoming community at Warrandyte Netball Club.
Warrandyte Diary, July 2024
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