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SGT
Kim Henderson and SGT Gaven Hogan (in red tops) defend against
goal shooter AB Louise Howes and AB Lhani Vano.
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Photo
by AB Karen Bailey
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THE
WA Air Force netball team is showing promise, despite losing in
the only two games it has played. The team managed just one training
session before taking part in the WA interservice netball competition
at HMAS Stirling on July 20.
So its first competitive game was as much about getting to know
each other’s style of play as trying to win, according to physical
training instructor Sergeant Doug Stewart. “We played fairly well
but Navy was just too dominant,” SGT Stewart said of the first
game, which was lost 13-37.
The Air Force was overwhelmed by Navy’s accurate shooting and
strong court coverage – not surprising since Navy had won this
event every year between 1994 and 2000 (this was the first event
since 2000).
“Our second game was a lot closer and that was because the team
had a chance to play together,” SGT Stewart said. Air Force improved
considerably against Army, never letting them get ahead by much.
The game was very close from the beginning and each team went
goal for goal for a while. But as the seconds ticked down in the
final quarter, Army shot ahead and held out the Air Force to
win 30-28. SGT Stewart said the team wasn’t surprised to come
last since it had very little experience playing together.
But he said its members were experienced netball players and were
hopeful that sticking together would get results in the future.
“We hope to keep this team together for the next couple of years
as much as possible, though many of the team was made up of civilians
because we’re such a small base.”
In the finals, the scores were locked 9-9 at half time but Navy’s
experience showed through and it wrapped up the title 42-23 with
13 unanswered goals.
