The Forbes Netball Association recently held the finals of the Autumn Night competitions for mixed and ladies teams.

MIXED FINAL
The Mixed final was won by NSG to Postie, who defeated Minor Premiers Aggies by 29-17. The players were very enthusiastic, and both teams played with lots of energy and passion, and the score line did not reflect the physicality of the game. NSG to Postie won the first quarter by 7-4, and continued to draw slightly ahead in the second quarter, with the half time score being 14-9.

Postie’s Isaac Stewart showed excellent ball skills and Sam Smith also helped to lead the way for his team. NSG to Postie’s shooter Jordon Gaffney had an accurate shooting game helping the team secure the lead. The third quarter was dominated by NSG to Postie, winning the goal count by 7-2.

Aggies centre Daniel Ashcroft dominated for his team, and Georgie Price and Chelsea Madden never gave up trying as they fought back in the final quarter, with the goal count 8-6 to Postie.

LADIES FINAL
The Ladies final was a powerful display of netball from Hughes & Co, who won the game against Minor Premiers Forbes Engineering 37-18. Hughes & Co took control of the game from the first whistle, winning the first quarter by 12-6. Forbes Engineering fought back in the second quarter to nearly equal the goal count. As circle defender Nicole Mee dominated the defence end for Hughes & Co, with Kate Loneragan shut down the Forbes Engineering attack. Hughes & Co again dominated the third quarter, with shooter Shannon Hurley, helped by Stephanie Hughes, made the goal count for the quarter 10-3 to Hughes & Co.

Forbes Engineering shooter Brianna Duncan was accurate throughout the game, and keeper Sophie Robinson held a strong defence. Forbes Engineering never gave up.

The Forbes Netball Association U17 representative team competed with success at the HART Senior State Titles on the June long weekend.

The Forbes U17 team includes Fiona Howarth (C), Iesha Sinclair (VC), Elsa Cusack, Aurella White, Lauren Bate, Georgia Warren, Lilly Mitchell, Mia Marjoram, Ella Higgins, Amy Cusack. Coach Robyn Kenny, Manager Deb Bate and Primary Carer Bec Howarth.

The team finished third on the point score ladder, just three points behind winners West Wyalong, and one point behind second placed Narrandera.

The Forbes representatives played at the Camden Netball Association courts on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, in the U17 division.

The team has been training together for four months, coming together every week in Forbes, and also attending all the regional training carnivals for vital match practice.

The team received many compliments from the umpires who were officiating their games. The girls were often congratulated for their sportsmanship, and fair play, and their high standard, and skill level.

The team played six games each day, over the three days of competition.

Day one saw the Forbes girls easily defeating Goulburn, Narrabri, Glen Innes, Cessnock and a tight game against Narrandera winning by three goals, with a loss to West Wyalong.

Day two also saw good wins against Ulladulla, Scone and an exciting come back to draw against Kurri Kurri after being down by six goals at the half time break.

Day three supporters again saw exciting netball played by the Forbes team, with four wins, and finishing the championships strongly by defeating Scone by a goal and then Kurri Kurri by seven goals.

The Forbes community should be very proud of the netballers who represented our town, who all displayed outstanding sportsmanship, team work and also played at a high level of skilled netball.

The Forbes Netball Association has chosen June 15th 2019 to be The Kids Cancer Project fundraiser where all players and everyone at netball will participate in a PJ day. This day is a major fundraiser for The Kids Cancer Project where netball associations all over the state will raise much needed funds for the charity.

Cooking from donations will be sold at the canteen, to raise extra funds, so everyone is asked to bring some donations, and some money to donate to the fundraising day. All players and umpires must wear joggers for their games.

Saturday will see the Junior Mixed Netball Competition continue. There is still time for new players to come and join in the fun and be placed into teams, or into NetSetGo.

Players from NetSetGo to under 15 years, can come and play netball for free, if you use your Active Kids Voucher.

Parents please note that the times for the divisions have changed back 15 minutes after the NetSetGo timeslot. Times for Net-SetGo are at 9:30am and divisions 1 and 2 are at 10:45am.

Coaches have been appointed to share the role, and managers have also been appointed to each team.

Team officials can contact Registrar, Paige McConnell to be given details of the players in their teams. Email Secretary, Melissa on secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com for more information required.

Volunteer Umpires

Anyone who would like to volunteer to umpire is very welcome. Come to the office on Saturday. Volunteers do not have to commit every week but any help would be greatly appreciated. Help and support will also be given to anyone who would like to learn.

Friday Netball

Friday netball has started from 5pm till 6pm. Friday netball will be the training session for the 11’s carnival team, plus any boys and girls who would like to come and join in the fun, and learn new skills. Players do not have to be registered, to play Friday netball.

Cowra Carnival

Three teams have been entered into the Cowra Carnival on Sunday, 14th April. A bus is also booked for that day, with the same age groups entered.

Forbes All Age Carnival

The Forbes Netball All Age Carnival will be held on Sunday, 5th May, with all ages catered for on the day.

Teams will play in a round robin competition with the first games starting at 8:30am.

Help will be provided to find umpires for Forbes teams entering the carnival.

All the Forbes open teams playing in the night competition are urged to enter and have a fun day of games, playing the great game of netball.

Players are urged to get teams organised now, so no-one misses out on entering the carnival.

The monthly meeting of the Forbes Netball Association (FNA) was held last week, with many teams represented and having input into ideas and decisions about the competitions.

These teams also received two competition bonus points. The meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, except during school holidays, at 7pm at the Forbes Services Memorial Club.

Umpire for Senior State Titles

A National badged umpire is needed for the Senior State Titles to be held over the June long weekend. An Under 17’s team has been selected and will compete at regional carnivals for training and compete and represent the FNA in the Senior State Titles.

The umpire will have their accommodation and food free for the weekend and will receive $300 for the three days of umpiring. All paid for by the players in the team. Expressions of interest for the umpire will close on Friday, 29th March, stating National badge details and should be emailed to secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com.

Coach for 11 years Carnival Team

A coach for the 11 years carnival team is needed, where the team will play in the regional carnivals. Expressions of interest and applications should be emailed to above email. Applicants should state any playing or coaching experience and coaching qualifications if held. Applications and expressions of interest for the 11 years coach will also close on Friday, 29th March.

Regional League West/Central West 2019

Congratulations Forbes Open representative team! The Forbes Open representative team has been competing in the West/Central West Regional League over two Sundays in March. They have qualified for the finals series by coming in fourth on the ladder after winning two of their three games on Sunday. The team defeated Parkes 47-21 and then Dubbo 45-24.

The netball games on Wednesday nights are full of action with everyone having fun playing with friends and family. The Autumn night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams have a high standard of netball, with the FNA committee catering for all the family playing together in their teams.

All team representatives are asked to please update their team sheets as sometimes the ladies and mixed games may be played on the same time slot. Team representatives are asked to write on their team sheet if any of their players are playing in the two competitions.

This week, players will not be able to take the court unless they are registered. Registration includes registration to NNSW and Forbes NA, plus the competition levy of $40 per player and $20 per player for the second competition.

The canteen will be operating with a variety of food sold each week. A roster for volunteering was discussed at the last meeting. All teams are asked to please check the roster when it comes out.

Umpiring Duty

Team representatives are asked to please check each week for umpiring duty. Representatives at a meeting last year asked if a badged umpire could go with the player umpiring, for support and to learn. This is working quite well and takes the pressure off the team to supply umpires.

Boys Gala Day

A free Boys Gala Day will be held this Friday at the netball courts from 3:30pm till 6pm. All boys will receive a free netball and they are asked to please send an email to secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com with a booking so the afternoon can be planned with the number of players attending. Boys will have fun playing games and being involved in activities, to gain extra knowledge and skills of netball.

The Forbes Netball Autumn night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams played the first round this week. More teams have entered the competitions, but there is now room for another ladies   to enter and take up the bye in that competition.

Team representatives are asked to please update and complete their team sheets.

All players are reminded that they must be registered by the third round of games, and anyone wanting help with registrations should come to the office on Wednesday evenings. Please do not leave paying the registrations to the last minute.

Anyone interested in learning to umpire, or umpire at any stage, is very welcome.

Help and support will be given to anyone who would like to learn. Please see Umpires Convenor, Marg Spackman at the courts on Wednesday nights.

The FNA will be organising a ‘Come and Try day’ for all boys and girls to start the Saturday junior mixed netball season. Net- SetGo will also be starting on the ‘Come and Try day’.

The day will be held on 16th March from 10am till 12 noon. A free sausage sizzle will end the occasion.

The Forbes Netball Association (FNA) held a very successful AGM last Thursday night, with all committee positions filled. Congratulations to all the volunteers whom have put up their hand so the Forbes community can keep enjoying netball. The committee is planning many events for the year so stay tuned.

The Autumn Night Competition started this week with the first grading games. The competition dates were set by members present at the meeting and will consist of 13 weeks. Any teams that have still not entered should email secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com. All new teams must be entered by Friday, 1st March, ready for the first round of competition on 6th March. If anyone wants to join a team or teams are looking for more players, they should contact the committee on the above email or come down to the courts on Wednesday night. Help with registrations will also be given at the courts. Ladies can play in both mixed and ladies competitions on the same night.

Saturday Junior Mixed Netball

The Saturday netball has had a makeover and will now be the Saturday Junior Mixed Netball. The competition will be for all boys Your free weekly guide to what’s happening in and around Forbes…shop locally first! Friday 1 March 2019 Page 7 and girls under 15.

The whole family can enjoy one sport at the one venue, with boys and girls all playing together in the mixed competition.

Watch out for more news including the new uniforms that will be available for players to wear in the competitions.

NetSetGo will cater for all the little ones, which will also be played on Saturday mornings.

The representative information day is set down for Monday, 4th March at 6pm at the netball courts. Application forms may be downloaded from the FNA website.

Forbes Netball is well underway, preparing for 2019. There are many dates already booked and more to come.

The AGM of the Forbes Netball Association (FNA) will be held on Thursday, 21st February at 7pm at the Forbes Services Memorial Club. All night competition teams who played in 2018, are asked to attend to help form a quorum.

Many of the 2018 FNA committee are unable to volunteer for 2019 due to family commitments and many new faces are needed to keep netball in town. Many of the positions can be split up to share the workload. Volunteers are needed for president, secretary and treasurer as well as many other positions.

The Autumn Night Competitions for both mixed and ladies teams are scheduled to start on 28th February with the first grading games. Entries for the competitions must be emailed to Secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com by the 21st February.

The first grading games will start the following week, when committee positions are filled to run the competition.

Nominations for players to play in the FNA open team, to play in the West/Central West Regional League have been reopened.

Nomination forms are on the FNA website and should be emailed immediately to above email. Some of the players who nominated last year are now unable to play and more players are needed. Players turning 15 this year are encouraged to also apply.

Dates for Regional League to be played at Orange are 10th and 24th March with finals on 31st March. Training is on Monday nights and all games are played indoors at the Orange PCYC. Entries for the competition close in a few weeks.