District netballers meet Loddon
Powerhouse teams Laharum and Harrow-balmoral will make up the bulk of this year’s Horsham District netball team to take on Loddon Valley at Horsham City Oval on Saturday.
Kalkee’s Jenna Bywaters and Swifts’ Courtney Morrow will join four Harrow-balmoral and three Laharum players in the squad.
Reigning premier Natimuk United has no representatives in the team.
Playing coach Ebonie Salter said there was a disproportionate number of Harrow-balmoral and Laharum players because more members of those teams had tried out.
“People weren’t available from the other teams. There wasn’t a lot of availability over that weekend,” she said.
“It just happened to be those girls that tried out and those were the girls who were selected.
“The girls from Laharum have so far proved that they’re the benchmark team, so it’s no surprise that they’re well represented.
“We’ve been playing pretty well at Harrow-balmoral too, and I encouraged plenty of the girls to try out.
“I’m happy with the team and I think it’s pretty reflective of where we’re at in the league.”
Salter will help anchor the Horsham District defence, while Laharum’s Caitlin Story will be the team’s focal point in the goal ring.
Also representing Laharum are Ema Iredell and Erin Mellington, while other Harrow-balmoral members include Brittany Keller, Kate Vickery and Rebecca Francis.
Salter said training was made easier because many of the players on the team played with each other every week.
She said the team was looking forward to the challenge of Loddon Valley.
“I know they’re strong and they’re always pretty well represented, but I haven’t looked too much into it,” she said.
“They hadn’t finalised their team the last I heard, so we’re just focusing on us and trying to get some consistency in our team before we think too much ahead to them.
“It will be really good to play in front of a home crowd.
“Interleague is always well supported and there’s a good atmosphere at city oval, so we’re looking forward to a good day.”