Sharks’ loss could prove a winner

CENTRE PASS

NO one likes to lose in sport, but a loss can be a good thing if it comes at the right time.

For Cairns Netball Association powerhouse Sharks, Wednesday night might have been the perfect time.

The 2019 premiers, who had previously been undefeated through five rounds of their title defence, were beaten 43-38 by the Phoenix Fierce, and surrendered top spot to their rivals in the process.

The loss was the Sharks’ second since September 2018. Their only other loss was in last year’s preliminary final to Leprechauns, who the Sharks beat in a thriller two weeks later. At the time, skipper Amanda Barton said the loss was “a blessing in disguise”.

How the premiers learn from Wednesday’s defeat and how they respond could define their 2020 campaign.

Keen netballers from across the region braved the stifling conditions as Cairns Netball Association hosted the Fowler’s Group Netball Carnival last weekend.

Club teams from Cairns, Tully, Innisfail, Mareeba and the Tablelands took to the Martyn St courts to do battle in 11 divisions.

Winners from the two-day tournament were Tully Gumboots (9/U), Phoenix Stars (10/ U), Reef Sharks (11/U), Leps 12 (12/U), TNA Firecrackers (13/ U), Leps 9 (Junior 2), TNA Sparks (Junior 1), Tigers Mixed (Junior Mixed), Phoenix Wildfire (Senior Mixed), TNA Tricksters (Senior 2), Phoenix Fire (Senior 1).

■Former Cairns resident and Australian Diamonds representative player Sharon Finnan-White hopes a Super Netball fixture in Cairns will inspire more Indigenous girls into the game.

“We’re still lacking that within our sport at the elite level,” she said. “I’d like to see that the programs we’re creating are making it more inclusive and easier for our girls to get through the pathway and aspire to play in the Super Netball league.”