Tenterfield High School netballers got an opportunity to take on rivals from Inverell and Glen Innes high schools on home ground on Tuesday, March 28 when the town hosted the annual gala day for the district.
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The girls only received hosting duties by default as the scheduled playing fields in Glen Innes were too badly damaged by the recent rains. Glen Innes has a very strong netballing sorority, and they went home the victors from Tuesday’s clash.
Tenterfield coach Lea Butler said her girls came away from the day “playing well and learning heaps”.
The schedule was tightened after the high school’s grass court was also put out of action by the rain, but the two sealed courts at Federation Park were busy all day as the two Tenterfield teams took on A and B grade teams from Glen Innes, as well as teams from Inverell and MacIntyre high schools. The winner of the gala day goes on to represent the district at zone level in Armidale.
While Tenterfield High School has offered netball as a sport option for some time, a surge in interest this year has led to the formation of a second school team. Mrs Butler is keen to get even more players involved to strengthen the B team, and to support the fledgling town competition played on weekends starting after Easter.
The students have walked up to Federation Park for Wednesday afternoon sport on several occasions, but – to save travel time – otherwise practise at school (generally on the sealed basketball court.)
With each team required to provide an umpire, a highlight of the gala day was having Regional Australia Bank’s Danielle Kelly on court. A former badged umpire, Ms Kelly said she was given the time away from her Tenterfield branch to participate on the day, as part of the bank’s community partnership program.
“It’s nice that they’re giving me the time off to support the local high school.”
While each team got more bye rounds then anticipated given the tighter schedule, it was probably appreciated given the warm playing conditions towards the middle of the day. Considering that the gala day had to be rescheduled twice due to inclement weather, the fine playing conditions Tenterfield turned on were very welcome.