Despite lining up with one of the youngest defences in NSW, Orange Thunder took home fourth place in the Netball NSW State Cup on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Coach Linda Macleod said her charges’ efforts at the Genea Netball Centre in Sydney’s Olympic Park were “absolutely fantastic” in 11 games over two days.
The Thunder defeated eventual winners Newcastle in a nail-biting one point game in the group stage, and lost by the same margin to runners-up Hills District, which Macleod said showed the Thunder could mix it with the best.
They were mixing with the best with a young side, too – the squad of 12 contained three 16-year-olds in Alex Emerson, Emily Williams and Sophie Brisbane, and 17-year-old Kate Mastronadi.
Brisbane also had the opportunity to play alongside her two sisters Emily and Lucy, and Macleod said it was a special moment to see them lining up across the centre – in wing attack, wing defence and centre – in one game.
The Thunder's defence was also brimming with youthful enthusiasm, with Mastronadi and Emerson making Caitlyn Harvey – who’s yet to turn 21, mind you – feel like a veteran in the defensive circle.
It’s hard to single anyone out, it was a whole team effort.
- Coach Linda Macleod
The side came together with very little training, too.
“We had a few players withdraw before the Cup and we hadn’t really trained – netball finished last term and we’d had no hit-out, and I think our first game showed that,” Macleod said.
However, the Thunder turned around around, led by goal attack Emily Neal who Macleod said was the stand-out in the side.
“Her accuracy, her movement, she really owned the goal circle,” she said.
“Although that said, it’s hard to single anyone out as it was a whole team effort.
“Tegan Dray played most of the tournament in the centre, Erin Johnston was our captain … they all played their roles.”
Over 11 matches, including a four-round finals series, the tournament took its toll on the side, with Macleod saying it was physically demanding for her troops, but the powered through to hit their goal of making finals.
“We were obviously looking to make finals but it was a bit of an unknown, I’d never been to a State Cup before,” Macleod said.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE SPORT?
Receive our free newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up here ...