Orange netball is amid two decades of dominance in the West-Central West Regional League top division after the Thunder took out the trophy over the Lightning in an all-Orange final last Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Further adding to the Orange Netball Association's dominance of netball in the Central West, Orange bibs appeared in all four grand finals with Tegan Dray's under 17s outfit taking out the second-division title as well.
Dray stepped onto the scene as a 14-year-old back in 2001 and has been enjoying regional league wins for almost 20 years and says the list of reasons why Orange has been so successful on the netball stage is endless.
"We've got a really great support system through ONA with some really good coaching," Dray said.
"We've had a number of great teams over the years with some really good combinations that have come from coaching as well.
"The passing down of knowledge has been really instrumental and the coaches have really drilled the basics of netball into a lot of these teams."
Credit's also got to be given to the competition the girls face on a yearly basis, both at the local and regional level.
"We get some great competition from our regional counterparts who always keep us on our toes," she said.
"We also have a very strong division one competition (in Orange). We have really high expectations when it comes to performing and doing our best."
Dray's heavily involved in the aforementioned local competition which is set to enter its third round of play on Saturday. Dray will kit up for City against one of two sides she coaches when the under 17s invitational squad awaits the 12-time defending champions.
"I'm looking forward to being pushed by the girls," she said.
The under 17s most recently defeated Hawks Royal in round two and promise to be a stiff challenge for City on Saturday.
Life Studio Blue will do battle with Life Studio as the latter side will try to add to its excellent start to the season as it's the only side other than the premiers who are yet to sustain a loss. Mardi Alpin and Charlotte Penny appear to be as good a chance as any to dethrone City.
The third match of the round will be between Life Studio Sportspower and Hawks Banksia Building as the newly-formed side will look to notch its first win of the season after being thumped by City in round 2.
Rounding out the four-game card will be OHS Hornets and Hawks Royal as the Hornets will look to consolidate their spot in the top four, while Hawks Royal seek their first win of the year.
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...