The local under 14s team took out the division three championship 12 months ago, earning them promotion to division two, where they will be hoping to at least do enough to keep their spot in the higher grade.

The under 12s, 13s and 14s will all take part in the division three competition once more this year in Campbelltown.

“Overall, at the lead-up carnivals, the four teams have performed very well, so we have reason to be quite confident,” Bathurst Netball Association president Sally Powell said.

“The under 14s from last year who go into second division in the 15s have been hurt by a few injuries and it would be a huge feat to somehow be at the top in a higher grade, but I think they can comfortably finish in the middle somewhere.”

The under 12s managed a sixth-placed finish last year and the majority of that side will go up into the under 13s team this time around.

The 13s from that campaign were fifth and, again, most of those players are still in the set-up and will run out for the under 14s on the weekend.

The unknown quantity is the new under 12s team, who are in the infancy of their representative careers.

“I am feeling very confident and ready going into our first State Age Championship,” under 12s mentor Angela Best said before making a bold prediction about her team’s performance.

“Going into the championship with 10 fit and eager players, we will be up there with the top teams at the end of the three-day competition.”

Under 13s coach Jo Belfanti was similarly confident and likes her team’s chances of coming away with an overall victory.

“With the girls’ continued hard work, together with focus and belief in themselves over the weekend, they definitely have a good chance this year to return back to Bathurst with the champion-ship trophy,” she said.

Experienced local A grade player-coach Kate McLaren will take charge of the under 14s and is hoping her team can cause some problems for their opposition once they hit the court.

The 14s have more new players than the other squads but appear likely to once more be in the top half of the competition. 

“With the attitude and spirit of these 10 girls, I have no doubt we can be up there,” she said.

Another local A grade coach, Melissa Noonan, will take on the job of looking after the under 15s. They have a slightly different squad to 2013, and are still waiting to see if injured shooter Lily McIntosh will get the all-clear. 

Deciding to bring someone new into the team three weeks out from the state competition has been a big ask of new- comer Shoni Catt, but she has fitted into the team perfectly, having last played with the same group in 2010. 

They are a talented team that showed last year they can pull together to achieve some great results under any circumstances as they head to the Illawarra.