NNC review: The best bits

The South Australian and Queensland cohorts will return home with some silverware after their teams claimed bragging rights at the National Netball Championships in Darwin.

The Queensland squad ran out victors in the under 17 competition while the South Australians snared top honours in the gold medal match of the under 19s tournament.

There has been some scintillating netball on display during the past week with the nation’s best emerging netballers converging in the Top End.

Each state and territory was represented in the under 19 and under 17 categories for the six day tournament.

MOROON CLINICAL

Queensland’s under 17s side maintained its unblemished record for the entirely of the competition.

Not only that, but they completely dominated the pool rounds, winning convincingly and were only challenged come finals time.

The girls in maroon managed to hold off (45-43) a surging West Australian squad in the semi-final which was decided in extra time.

Tia Crombie was an in integral part of the win, shooting 27 goals to help her side into the grand final where they faced NSW – whom they only beat by six goals in the pool rounds.

As suspected the grand final went right down to the wire.

NSW came out firing to win the first quarter 11-8 before Queensland turned the tables to level the scores at the main break. They then won the third term, taking a two-goal advantage into the last quarter where the maroons held on to win 42-40.

Queensland defender Jada Delaney won the grand final MVP medal.

Western Australia defeated Victoria in the bronze medal match 33-25.

SOUTH AUSSIES SUPERB

The South Australians have stamped their authority as a strong netball state after their under 19s were crowned winners on Sunday.

Their journey to the gold medal match was also unblemished, they didn’t drop a game during the pool rounds.

But that’s not to say they weren’t challenged. They only toppled Victoria by two during the round robin part of the tournament and were pushed by Western Australia and NSW.

They defeated NSW by six to book their ticket to the gold medal match against Western Australia where the west Aussies proved they were a force.

After a seesawing first three terms, the South Australians put on a clinic in the final berth to win the quarter 15-5 and seal a 44-33 victory.

South Australia’s Tabitha Packer was named the grand final MVP.

The bronze medal match was even more hotly contested with NSW defeating Victoria by a single goal in a nail-biting finish.

TEAM IN WHITE

While there was plenty of incredible netball on display in Darwin, an integral part of making it happen was the 17-strong umpiring cohort who travelled to the Top End to officiate the championships.

And that’s no easy task, only the best of the best get the opportunity to do it.

The national championships was the perfect opportunity for the umpiring group to hone their craft and continue down the path to the high performance space.

The fast-paced nature of the matches and the tournament itself make it a huge challenge for the group.

Margaret Ryland, one of the umpires who is also based on Larrakia Country in the Northern Territory, said it was an incredible event to be a part of.

“The National Netball Championships in Darwin has been an incredible experience,” she said.

“It has been amazing to umpire the calibre of netball on show and to see Netball NT host such a superb event.”

The championships offered a safe space for the umpiring group to practice and apply their knowledge in a high-pressure environment.

Netball Australia celebrates the 17 umpires that turn up every day to be an important part of the event.