The 2017 Netball season has arrived and so has the excitement of using the brand new all weather netball courts.
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There was no better way to test them than in the rain, and they received plenty of it last weekend, especially on Saturday.
With the first turn of soil way back in October 2016, anticipation was high for the courts completion as the rain set in early in the week.
A $919,028 grant was used to upgrade the playing surface of Macquarie Park's 11 netball courts.
As some training sessions were cancelled leading up to competition start, there were many anxious netballers hoping that the first round would go ahead.
Early Saturday morning brought high winds and, of course, rain. The tough decision was made to cancel the games for the newest little netballers.
Many tears were shed as uniforms were rehung in the wardrobe, ready for next week, but the show rolled on for the remainder of the day, with 10 years age groups playing on the courts in the first round.
Some very close games were played out on a surface that young and old players will need to get used to.
The rain held off until the final round of the day, with division one and three ladies experiencing some wet conditions throughout their games.
Saints Boost defeated PC Inferno 39 to 16 in division one and St Agnes Parish School were too strong for PP RSL in the wet, winning 35 to 25.
All in all, the association received some great feedback in relation the conditions of the courts and how quickly they dried. HVNA President, Helen Miles, was extremely happy with the way the first round went.
“It didn’t rain for a few hours after we called our non-competitive netta games off early in the day, and the courts were able to dry exceptionally quickly,” she said.
“If it wasn’t for the State Government Grant that we received last year, these courts may not have been able to be played on.”
It didn’t rain for a few hours after we called our non-competitive netta games off earlier in the day, and the courts were able to dry exceptionally quickly.
- Helen Miles
On Sunday, HVNA hosted one of the many Representative Carnivals of the season.
All of the HVNA Representative Teams and Development Teams were entered into the carnival, where visiting associations travelled from as far as Tamworth, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour to participate.
Unfortunately the weather did not want to play nice, and the carnival was called off at 11am. They will be back at it this weekend, however, with more games to be played.
Games start at 9am, where the netta girls are hopeful they can finally get on the courts.
The official opening of the Hastings Valley Netball Courts will be held on 1 April 2017 at 12 noon, coinciding with our annual Clubs March Past. Please come along and celebrate this wonderful occasion with us.