Netball Primary Cup Winners

During the school holidays Somerset Netball was represented by two teams at the Queensland Primary State Netball cup held in Bundaberg. Our Championship team came out winners with our Development squad an impressive fifth.

Teams from all over the state travelled to Bundaberg for two full days of Netball. There was a total of over 50 teams entered into the competition.

Somerset A team entered the Championship division, Somerset B team entered the Development division.

Both teams played seven games on day one, in hot and dusty conditions. Each topped their pools after Day 1, meaning the A team were playing for best in state. The B team were looking to finish in the Top 8 of their division.

Raring to go with some warm-up dancing and team talks from coaches, the girls hit Day 2, running. The A team had to finish Top 4 to make the play offs. The B team were looking for as many wins as possible.

The B team performed to a high standard consistently, in all games, coming down to just one or two goals either for or against. They secured their final game by one point to finish fifth in this top division for development players. It was an extremely emotional end with 10 extremely exhausted but exhilarated players and a coach so thrilled seeing the major improvement from these girls.

The A team had a hiccup on their way to play offs in the form of Coorparoo State School, last year’s champions.  We met them on Day 1 in the pool games and came away with the win. Coorparoo's talk must have fired-up the team who then came out determined to beat us, which they did. The team lifted their heads and went on to win the rest of their games, meaning a second place finish in this pool and progression to the semi-finals. 

We met St Andrew’s Peregian Springs in the semi-finals. Tunnels of loud Somerset supporters were formed, for players to run through. The game was won in a nail biter, leading the team to the final. The final was a battle of the Gold Coast after Oxenford State School took out Coorparoo in their semi-final.

Somerset dug deep in an extremely physical encounter, with the girls defending their hearts out and really putting their bodies on the line. Coach Chantrel Thrupp made use of the rolling subs to keep the legs as fresh as possible.

The final whistle blew with six goals each. Extra time went two minutes each way with quick change at half time. As the clock ticked, it appeared to be deadlocked once more. As the buzzer went, Somerset was awarded a penalty in the goal circle, meaning pass or shot. Brianna Peardon stepped up; the crowd held their collective breath. She shot the goal. We won. The look on the players’ faces when they realised that they were best in the state was priceless.

A massive congratulations to all players involved and a heartfelt thank you to the parent support network.