ADF netballers fight it out

By LS Rachel Irving

Above: RAAF Richmond’s Cpl Trevor Barltrop tries to block a pass to HMAS Kuttabul’s Goal Attack in the men’s preliminary final. Below: Cpl Merryl Pringle, School of Sigs, lines up a goal against the defence of RAAF Richmond’s LACW Meagan Sellars in the women’s final. Photos by LS Rachel Irving, Service newspapers

IT WAS a day of both joy and heartbreak at the inaugural Kapooka 7s Netball competition at Wagga Wagga recently.

Eighteen teams travelled from as far away as Townsville to compete in the knockout competition.

In temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, mixed teams took their battles to the court.

The men’s final saw RAAF Richmond take on the home side of Army Recruit Training Centre (ARTC). The first half was a close contest with a score difference of just 5 at the main break. ARTC pulled away in the second half however, to easily overcome RAAF Richmond, with the full-time score 28-12.

Standout player for the game was Kapooka’s centre, Sgt Steve Gibbs, who played an excellent support role throughout the four quarters.

Their prize money of $250 was donated to next year’s Kapooka 7’s competition.

In the mixed final, HMAS Kuttabul took on a mixed defence team from Canberra. Excellent shooting from Canberra’s LACW Keira Black and Flt-Lt Paul Fournier and good support from Flg-Off Kate Dixon, was not enough to keep the Kuttabul side at bay.

Kuttabul won the game through their strong attacking tactics and accurate shooting and finished ahead 24-16.

Unfortunately for Kuttabul, their joy was short-lived when they were disqualified from the competition for an entry infringement and the title went to Canberra.

The Canberra team did not accept the prize money, however, instead donating the $250 to the ADF Netball Association.
The last game of the day was the women’s final, which saw RAAF Richmond take on School of Sigs, Watsonia. The teams were almost last year’s national teams of NSW (RAAF) and Victoria (School of Sigs).

Both teams went into the final with injuries to their substitutes, which eventually saw the School of Sigs with just six players on the court when Capt Tash Ludwig injured her ankle.

Regardless, the game was a tense and tight contest. Although School of Sigs led by four at half time, their lack of numbers would prove costly as the RAAF team clawed their way back to win by two points.

Skill level was high from all the players, though strong defence from AB Jo Conley for RAAF kept the shooters from the School of Sigs pushing for goals.

Co-ordinator of the Kapooka 7s, Sgt Steve Gibbs, said he was very happy with the amount of teams who participated in the event.

“The plan is now to hold the 7s each year,” he said.

“What I’ve seen here today is an excellent display of sportsmanship throughout.

“Special thanks must go to Commandant Col Richard Stanhope, the volunteer civilian umpires led by Debbie Flanagan, and of course all the participating teams especially 5 Avn Regt who travelled from Townsville.”

Best and fairest for the mixed was Matt Wildon from HMAS Cerberus, while Steve Gibbs and Kuttabul’s Sean Newman tied for the men’s title. For the women, best and fairest went to Kapooka’s Meagan Grogan.