In what could only be described as a nail-biter, the Nyngan Tigers under-12 netball team won its grand final against arch rivals the Deadly Dragonflies by just five goals.
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The win capped a successful four-year stint for this talented team, which has won two grand-finals and been runner up once since entering the Dubbo netball competition as eight year olds.
Teressa Rose has coached the team for the four years, and this year was joined by Anita Smith to guide the girls through a solid season, where they were only defeated once in the competition rounds.
The grand-final was a tight affair, with the teams locked at even points at every quarter until the final 15 minutes when Nyngan finally was able to win some play.
The girls all played well in both attack and defence against a very well drilled opposition which included several representative players.
Over the years the girls have developed into their positions, and their experience showed through on the day.
Ella Rose, despite being very heavily defended managed to shoot goals from all over the circle, supported by an athletic Amy Motley. Molly Smith was all over the court in centre, working well with her wing attacks Libby Weston and Sophie Yabsley to continually get the ball to the Tigers’shooters.
The Nyngan defensive team was as always a solid unit. Lucy McLaughlin was able to keep the opposition out of the contention on many occasions, supported strongly by the versatile Billie Smith, the talented Whitney Pack and the reliable Prue Donnelly. The four of them were able to intercept the ball on numerous occasions and get it back up the court.
After last year’s heart breaking narrow grand final loss, it was a relief for the girls and their supporters to jag the trophy in 2017.
The girls experience showed through on the day.
- Abigail McLaughlin.
At the presentation the awards were given to Sophie Yablsey, Whitney Pack and Libby Weston.