Capital netballers
Volume 11, No. 50, August 24, 2006
By Barry Rollings

Net result: A player keeps her eye in the ball at the ACT netball championships. Photo by LACW Kim Eager

ARMY dominated the ACT Inter-Service Netball Championships at Lyneham Indoor Netball Centre in Canberra by winning two of the three finals.

The slick teamwork and precision passing of Army proved too much for Navy in the women’s final, which Army won 28-13 at the July 25 event.

Air Force provided stiff competition for Army in the men’s final and it led 6-5 at half-time before Army prevailed in the second half to win 19-13.

After two triumphs, it seemed likely the combined might of Army’s men and women might prove too tough for Navy in the mixed final, but that was not the case.

The mixed final was a dour affair in which Navy battled hard to maintain the early lead it had established.

Navy led 6-4, 10-7 and 14-12 at each of the changes before producing a strong last quarter that Army could not match. Navy outscored Army 7-1 in the final term for a convincing 21-13 victory.

For Army in the women’s competition, OCdt Sally Williamson and OCdt Suzie Simmons provided strong centre court defence. OCdt Hollie Cahill and Sgt Sarah Sattell delivered fast and strong drives through the attacking end of the court.

In the mixed competition, Cpl Mat Wheelahan and OCdt Rachael Tews converted a high number of goals, with Sig Ben Wood proving versatile in both attack and defence. Army’s men’s team was short on numbers and was ably assisted by players in the Navy and Air Force squads.

Player-coach Maj Colin Blyth was a key Army player, placing a high turnover of players on the court, which resulted in positive results. Sig Nicolas Packer was another standout versatile player throughout the competition.

About 60 players in nine teams contested the titles. Players included Service personnel from Wagga Wagga and Nowra.

ACT netball representative Lt Paula Vetter said the competition standard was very high, “surprisingly so in the mixed competition, while the women’s competition also produced a good standard”.

At the end of the titles, teams were selected to represent the ACT at the ADF Netball Championships in Perth from October 22-28.