The Thames Valley under-16B girls representative netball team has had a great season, coming away from nationals with a fifth place ranking.
The team, made up of 12 players from Paeroa, Morrinsville, Hauraki Plains, Waihī and Matamata, headed to New Plymouth on July 6 to compete in the under-16B grade at the North Island Junior Netball Championships.
Their grade was taken out by Hamilton City, with Netball Taranaki as runner-up.
Team member Shiah Taylor, of Paeroa, was also selected for the North Island Junior Netball under-16 combined B and C grade championship team
Team manager Jessie O’Brien said the Thames Valley team had trained hard in the lead-up to the tournament. They came runner-up in the Auckland representative tournament in June in the under-16 division, behind the Hamilton City under-16 B team. They also took out first place at the Helen Dodge representative tournament in Tauranga.
Jessie said she, coach Tracy Taite-Grace, and primary care person Stace Taylor were proud of what the players had achieved.
“[We] have guided and nurtured these ladies to be the best they can be,” she said.
The Thames Valley under-14 B grade team also competed at the Taranaki nationals, coming away in 12th place.
