Medal for underdogs
THE loss of a star player couldn’t stop a team of Townsville underdogs from grabbing a bronze medal at the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball Carnival.
Playing off against the Cathedral College, Rockhampton in Bundaberg, St Margaret Mary’s College navigated the loss of tournament MVP and goal shooter Remy Arnold to an ankle injury to claim bronze in a tight 15-12 win.
SMMC’S coach Leanne Arnold said it was her side’s determination that carried it through.
“We didn’t get off to the best start and three minutes in Remy did her ankle, so we lost her for pretty much the entire game,” she said.
“There was one goal in it for most of the game. They’d get up then we’d get up right up until the last two minutes.
“They turned it over and we consolidated. I’m not sure if we were the strongest team but our girls wanted it more and they were just hungry to win.
“With a young team we were thinking we wouldn’t be as strong, so it is a fantastic result in a close, hard fought final.”
Stepping up to cover the loss of Arnold, Sarah Carr shone at goal shooter and stood her ground against state representative defenders in unison with goal attack Grace Bowman.
Bowman, the daughter of North Queensland Cowboys champion Paul Bowman, made her mark throughout the tournament.
“Sarah played beautifully and Grace played a really good game,” Arnold said.
“She won the (QISSN) Rising Star Encouragement Award and that’s great recognition for her.
“Ally Andreassen and Thalia Clarke were brilliant.”