Titles spur Gemma on
GEMMA Ruff took her first steps to a future in Super Netball when she ventured from Townsville to the Sunshine Coast.
About 80 athletes from the region travelled to the southeast corner of the state for the Nissan State Age Netball Titles, competing from under-12s to under-15’s against the best of the best throughout Queensland.
The experience has lit the fire in the 12-year-old’s belly to one day step on to the national stage and make her own imprint on the game as a dynamic young centre.
“I want to play for Sunshine Coast Lighting … I just want to keep training and working my hardest and keep trying to make the state age team.
“It was really fun and every night we got to look up to the under-15s … they were always supportive, they were always looking after (us) and making sure we were OK.”
While the teams were selected back in February, the coronavirus pandemic put a sudden halt to their plans of state domination.
However it failed to deter their efforts off the court. Players continued to train at home throughout the lockdown period, given programs by their coaches and posting their exploits to a Facebook group to ensure motivation was never short.
For Townsville squad captain Thalia Clarke, having the opportunity to influence the next generation of players was an honour she would never forget.
As the competition wore on, her under-15’s side continued to find their feet in an eventual fifth-placed finish.
But against Logan, who ended up as the division champions, Thalia said they played as though the title was set to be theirs in a gutsy 17-all draw.
“We got a few turnovers at the start, which really lifted us. They lost their way a little bit and we played above and beyond then,” she said.
“The teams were very good, big and strong and very loud.
“That’s something we’re not really exposed to in Townsville, it was very tough and having to overcome them on the court.
“The level of competition really grows with the age groups as we get older and it shows the effort we put in at home.”