As the State Age Championships wrapped up, both teams produced strong final day efforts to drag themselves up the competition ladder after some tough starts.

The under 15s were competing in division two for the first time, having won in division three of the under 14s a year earlier, and initially found the going tough but had worked their way into the competition by day three.

Stepping up into a higher grade was always going to be tough, and at one point about two-thirds of the way through the competition, they were sitting only two spots from the bottom.

They turned things around in fantastic fashion, though, and finished strongly.

“We managed to finish 14th and have moved six places up the state ladder,” Bathurst coach Melissa Noonan said.

“They may have only won seven out of 19 games, but I would rate the rest as four great losses and four ugly ones. 

“The score was never a real indication of how well the girls played as a team, giving each game everything they had.”

For the under 14s, things weren’t looking  rosy in the beginning with a tough run that saw them win just two of their opening nine games.

It would have been easy for them to lose a bit of heart at that point, given that a handful of those defeats had been by just a couple of goals, but they hit back and were able to finish with a positive record.

From 19 matches they took 10 wins and nine defeats, winning eight of their last 10. 

“Each day there was any improvement up the ladder. The windy conditions played havoc with our style of play, but all in all the girls played fantastically and should be proud of their achievement,” coach Kate McLaren said.

“[There were] some major breakthroughs for some of our players which made the weekend well worth it, and hopefully they can now continue to build on this for the rest of the season. 

“We now look towards trials for next year’s championships and start the preparation all over again.” 

Bathurst Netball Association president Sally Powell was proud of the two younger age groups, but given the way the under 14s and 15s warmed into their campaigns, there were smiles right across the board.

“The under 14s and 15s ... We knew they would probably struggle a little by comparison to the under 12s and 13s, but they showed improvement across each of the three days,” Powell said.

“They got better and better and that is all you can ask for. For the under 15s, to be put up into division two and come 14th at their first attempt was a great effort.

“Just as importantly, the behaviour, attitude and the zest for the whole competition across each day was outstanding and something they should all be proud of.”