Warragul & Drouin Gazette

Locals compete at state titles

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Gippsland was well represente­d at the Netball Victoria state netball titles held in Bendigo recently.

Numerous locals had been selected in 15 and under and 17 and under, and All Abilities Latrobe Valley region teams.

The 17 and under team started well, winning three of its first four games, before finishing with six wins and a draw.

The 17 and under team was in the hunt in most of its matches, including a narrow three goal loss to eventual title winner North Central.

While the 15 and under team won just the two matches against Chisolm and Sunraysia respective­ly, it was very competitiv­e.

Competing in 16 matches, the Latrobe Valley came away with draws against Two Bays and rivals Gippsland and suffered narrow losses in other games.

Off the back of huge growth in All Abilities netball programs during the 2015 season, this year was the first year that two Gippsland All Abilities representa­tive teams participat­ed at state titles. Athletes from the Drouin and District Netball Associatio­n represente­d Latrobe region, while athletes from Leongatha and District Netball Associatio­n represente­d Gippsland region.

In another first, Netball Victoria provided two All Abilities divisions, a championsh­ip division as well as a reserve (participat­ory) division.

Both Gippsland sides played in the championsh­ip division and were highly competitiv­e, playing each of their matches in great spirit. The Latrobe team finished fifth, while the Gippsland team finished a very creditable third.

GippSport Access for All Abilities Program Manager Dan Poynton said he was proud of the All Abilities netball sides. “They’ve had a massive year,” he said. “For the Leongatha (Gippsland) group to finish third at state titles in their first year playing is a huge achievemen­t.

“The Drouin (Latrobe) team got very close in a number of their matches and should be very proud of how they played.”

Baw Baw Shire Council provided grant assistance to the Drouin based side to help it get to Bendigo.

Meanwhile, Netball Victoria and GippSport are working on an All Abilities netball strategy for the region.

It is hoped that further All Abilities programs will be establishe­d in the Latrobe Valley, Sale and Bairnsdale next season to complement the programs already existing in Drouin and Leongatha. Latrobe Valley region teams: 15 and under (coach Yvonne Porter): Tiarni Fallin (Longwarry), Taylah Thomas (Cora Lynn), Paris Toner (Pakenham), Tayla Cheffers (Yinnar), Olivia Clark (Traralgon), Shannon Freeman (Traralgon), Annalise Hughes (Traralgon), Georgia Hutchinson (Yinnar), Chelsea Livingston­e (Traralgon), Hayley Huzier (Churchill), Rachel O’Brien (Heyfield), Grace Walker (Morwell).

17 and under (coach Sharon Hook, assistant coach Hannah Russell): Katrina Guy (Drouin), Ruby Pratt (Drouin), Emily McInnes (Trafalgar), Taylah Roberts (Bunyip), Aimee Wright (Bunyip), Sarah Mulqueen (Westbury), Millie Walker (Moe), Daisy Hill (Traralgon), Samantha Waters (Traralgon), Kasey Guttridge (Traralgon), Jordan Pyle (Traralgon), Zoe Robinson (Murrumbeen­a).

All Abilities (coach Janet Parker): Erin Munckton (Drouin), Lara Gair (Drouin), Paige Middleton-Ross (Drouin), Courtney Drake (Drouin), James McDonald (Warragul), Glen Van Dord (Warragul), Tempaney Dawson (Warragul), Paul Van Dord (Labertouch­e), James Sinclair-Badger (Nyora), Amberlea Sinclair-Badger (Nyora), Paula Bearsley (Cranbourne), Sue Hoskin (Ringwood East).

 ??  ?? Paul Van Dord represente­d Latrobe region at the Netball Victoria state titles in Bendigo recently.
Paul Van Dord represente­d Latrobe region at the Netball Victoria state titles in Bendigo recently.

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