It’s something plenty are hoping will come for Orange’s Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School in a fortnight or so, after its tilt at the Netball NSW Schools Cup state finals on September 19 and 20.

It still could, of course.

But if it does, the Schools Cup will be the second state championship the Catherine McAuley’s gun side claims this month after it sealed the NSW Catholic Primary Schools gong at Penrith’s Jamison Park on Tuesday.

Competing in the Senior Championship division Catherine McAuley topped pool A to qualify for the gold-medal game, going on to win that and seal the title.

Catherine McAuley beat out St Kevin’s Eastwood, St Declan’s Penshurst, St Francis Assisi Paddington, St Christopher’s Holsworthy and cross-city rivals St Mary’s Orange in the pool stage.

Not a bad way to prepare for the Schools Cup finals, by anyone’s standards.

“It’s certainly great for their confidence,” LeeAnn Hazelton, who co-coaches the side with Lucy Connor, enthused.

“We had Mrs Forbes and Mrs Hayden take the girls down because neither Lucy nor I could actually go, and they’ve told us they just played so well, and worked really hard for each other.

“Our shooters were very accurate in this one, they’ve done so well.”

Hazelton heaped praise on the St Mary’s side as well, pointing to the sportsmanship on show as a real highlight.

“St Mary’s has a great little side together there, it’s wonderful to see them do well too,” she said.

“They don’t have the height we have but they’re just little pocket rockets. The lovely thing is that we do bond at these competitions, there’s always great sportsmanship between the two sides and the support they offer each other is lovely.”

This year’s edition was also the first time Catherine McAuley had sent two teams to the all-catholic schools tournament, the school’s second side competed in the Senior Yellow division.

The side may not have reigned supreme in that division, but thanks to a huge effort it went mighty close.

“It’s first past the post in that division and our girls ended up coming equal second there,” Hazelton said.

“We’ve been going to compete in this competition forever and every year we offer all the girls a chance to trial for the netball side, but this year Lucy and I saw the opportunity to send two teams, so we thought let’s do it.

“It was simply because of the girls’ enthusiasm. They deserve a lot of credit because it is a big commitment and the school really supported it too.

“It is great to be able to send two sides, because a few of these girls don’t actually get the opportunity to play netball of a Saturday morning because of other commitments.

“So it’s as much about offering them the opportunity to play competitive netball, because they really are great little players.”

Catherine McAuley heads to Netball Central for the Schools Cup finals later this month.