DUBBO Netball Association’s quest to topple Orange as the queens of Central West State League netball resumes tomorrow with the 2015 season beginning at Bathurst.
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Orange has incredibly been crowned champions for the past 19 seasons in Division 1 but Dubbo showed huge amounts of improvement last year.
After defeating Orange in one of the preliminary rounds they met in the grand final with Orange winning a hard-fought 56-47 thriller.
With the Netball World Cup in Australia this year all competitions have been brought forward but Dubbo is still well prepared with co-coaches Michelle Williams and Karen Weekes putting in an intense pre-season regime.
“With the Netball World Cup being staged in Australia in August this year we knew that State League would be changed to a pre-season competition” Weekes said.
“We started squad training back in September and we have been building the team since then.”
There are a number of newcomers to the Dubbo team this season with former representative players Khyarne Biles, Angela Elliot, and Jess Willmot all returning while Brittany Hill, Sophie Smith and Rebecca Weekes have also joined the squad.
Williams will again captain the season and will be a key figure in midcourt while another vital performer for Dubbo will be Megan Liplyn, one of the stars in both local and representative netball last year.
Carolyn Dallinger, Keira Garling, Jacinda Spicer and Emily Wilmott will also all line up again after being part of the squad last season and the captain feels she has a talented squad at her disposal.
“We have a very strong team again this year with a great mix of skill and experience on all areas of the court,” Williams said.
“Mark Garling has put in another outstanding effort training the girls for strength and fitness. We are looking forward to taking on the best in the central west.”
As well as the senior opens side beginning their season tomorrow, the under-17s Dubbo side will also be in action.
Rather than play in their own division the under-17s side will compete in Division 2 in 2015 with the aim being to dominate the league.
Coach Sharon Edmunds is using State League as part of the team’s preparations for this year’s State Championships in June. Edmunds and assistant coach Tash Watts-Tehiko have been working with the squad since the start of the year in order to make a real impact this season.
“The girls are competing up a division this year. The decision was made to play the team in Division two rather than 17s to help the girls with their State Championships preparation,” Edmunds said.
Abbie Merrit and Grace Pilon return to 17s after a season in Opens State League and their experience and skill will be invaluable for the Dubbo side.
Dubbo will take on two Orange sides, two Bathurst sides and Cowra in Division one while the 17s will meet Bathurst, Blayney, Forbes, Cowra and Parkes in Division 2.