SARAH Southcombe has watched the Muswellbrook Under-14s representative netball team grow since she began working with them as the Under-11s development squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And, as their coach, she is hoping their efforts will pay off this weekend when they represent Muswellbrook at the 2017 Samsung State Age Championships in Campbelltown.
The team of eight – Heidi Richards, Clare Howard, Aneira bray, Shae Reynolds, Bridie Clinch, Chelsea Bowditch, Meg Southcombe, and Amber Morgan – was selected during the trial process earlier this year.
Southcombe said the girls were chosen based on a number of factors, including passing, game sense, and defense.
All their skills combined are set to make a strong combination heading into the weekend’s competition.
“I think one of the strengths of the girls is I can put them in any position and they will do their best,” Southcombe said.
The local woman said the team was aiming to secure the blue patch that eluded them by one game as the Under-13s in 2016.
“They came so close,” she said.
“If we had won our last game on the Monday, we would have come first.”
While the team will no doubt put in their best effort while away, Southcombe said it was a great opportunity to compete.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to go away and represent your hometown,” she said, adding she would like to acknowledge the efforts of the U14s manager Cath Reynolds and trainer Ian Richards in the team’s preparation.