THE NAMBUCCA Valley Opens team started their 2018 Netball NSW State Championship campaign in weather best suited for ducks, and maybe not even ducks would have ventured out in the drenching conditions Gosford put on for the June long weekend.
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Preparations leading into the three-day tournament were fraught with injuries, illness and unavailability. However, coach Vicki Wassens was confident the players would perform on the court.
“I’ve coached and/or played with each of the girls in this team, so I knew their capabilities. I trusted them to be at their best, and they trusted me to make the right decisions each game,” Vicki said.
And that’s exactly what happened after they played out their cobwebs in their first match up against Lakeside.
“Being the first time on the court together this season, this game was a bit of a hit-Nambucca Valley Netball Association
out to find our rhythm. After that game, there was no looking back. We just kept getting stronger,” Vicki said.
The Saturday saw the opens win all but one of their following five matches.
Although the rain showed no signs of easing, Nambucca took their red hot form from the Saturday onto the court against Singleton. With a half time 11-6 score line in favour of Nambucca, the matches were suspended by Netball NSW for reasons of safety, with the scoreline standing.
Coffs Harbour were next on the team’s radar. Battling goal for goal tended for an exciting end, but a tournament ending injury saw Nambucca’s small drop in focus allow Coffs to take the win in the final minutes.
An exciting match against Young brought a draw, followed by convincing wins against Dubbo, Tamworth and Narrabri.
While most people were enjoying their Monday off for the long weekend, the Nambucca opens made their way to the Gosford netball courts to complete their assault on the three day tournament.
Feeling the fatigue of playing 12 games, the players were stiff to start and allowed Great Lakes to get a lead on them which was unable to be pulled back although they were the better team in the second half.
They carried this form and belief in to their match against ladder leaders, and eventual winners, Westlakes. “It was truly the best match of netball I have seen any of these ladies play. It rivalled a SuperNetball match on tv. The girls were just outstanding,” Vicki said.
“Westlakes were worried, we were with them goal for goal, even having the lead for a while. It was only in the last minute-and-a-half that they got away from us, breaking our centre, then scoring from their own. It was just an outstanding performance from our girls, and an amazing game from both teams.”
After leaving nothing on the court against Westlakes, there was not much in the tank against Sapphire Coast. However the team rallied and finished with convincing wins against Armidale and Cobar.
“If anyone wants an example of true courage, it’s this group of players. We had players with shin splints, back spasms, chest infections, to name a few, and each player continued to give everything for their team mates,” coach Vicki said.
“We were worried we wouldn’t even get through the tournament, let alone playing out 18 games and finishing eighth. Saturday was a difficult day, and we wore happy socks as a tribute to Aaron, and I’m sure he would have been proud of these ladies.
“I would personally like to thank the players for being fabulous representatives of the Nambucca Valley – Brooke Chapman, Zara Simon, Brooke Hallett, Brianna Dallas, Peta Salter, Tahnee Milgate, Tayla Chapman, Claire Spain, Mickayla Ennis. Thank you to our manager Gayleene Chapman, and to the partners and parents for your continuous positivity, encouragement and support.”
Nambucca Valley Netball Association also are looking forward to State Age Champs in July with under 12s to 15s teams competing in Sydney.
Meanwhile, the 17s played 19 games at Gosford. On the first day the girls came away with three wins from six games. Day 2 was most successful with four wins from seven games including a win against top of the ladder Charlestown.
Day 3 was the hardest with one win, and one draw from six matches, although three of the games were decided by fewer than four points. The Nambucca girls ended up 12th on the ladder – a great result as the division they play in is made up of much larger associations including city areas.
The team consisted of Luwarna Cohen, Elouise Ennis, Carly Ahearn, Charlie Dent, Willow Berry, Carla Silvia, Wurinda Gill, Hunter Flanders and Lucy Spain.
