This year’s Netball WA Smarter than Smoking Association Championships were a huge success for the Mandurah Netball Association (MNA), with a bunch of their teams taking out a strong set of results at the Wembley Sports Park over the weekend.
The MNA fielded 13 teams in this year’s carnival ranging in age categories from under 12s to open sides, with three making it through to grand finals including their division one under 17s squad, which finished atop the field with a premiership win.
Led by captain Josie Cransberg, the 17s were able to turn an up-and-down weekend into a glorious one after making it to the final game against Fremantle.
They went into the game as underdogs after suffering a 10-goal loss to Fremantle in the qualifying rounds, but pulled out a miraculous upset to topple their opponents 19-16.
The victory is Cransberg’s third straight in an association championships grand final, following under 15s and under 17s wins in the previous two years.
Along with their winning 17s team, the MNA also saw its open and under 13s division one sides make grand finals, with the results narrowly going against them.
Both of the association’s under 15s teams finished in equal third place, while one of their under 14s outfits just missed out on a grand final berth.
Mandurah Netball Association area development officer Alex Shorter said it was excellent to see the MNA’s teams performing so strongly.
“To see all the girls’ hard work paying off is what makes the association championships such a wonderful carnival,” she said.
“It’s a really fiercely contested event with some international teams playing there so to see Mandurah doing so well is just great.
“I think it also shows how strong our pathways are – our whole association from under 12s to open is really connected so to get the results is just really awesome for the girls.”
Several Netball WA talent scouts attended the tournament, with a number of Mandurah players catching their eye.
A total 15 of the 39 divisions were won by teams in country areas, while 11 teams also traveled from Singapore to compete.
Netball WA chief executive officer Simon Taylor congratulated all who were involved with the weekend.
“This weekend is the largest event on the Netball WA calendar, and to achieve what we have over the past three days is an outstanding testament to the hard work of the players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and Netball WA staff,” he said.
For more information on the championships or to view highlights visit Netball WA’s Facebook page.