TWO of Bathurst’s representative netball teams will put themselves to the test against the best in NSW this long weekend as they line up in Illawarra for the Netball State Championships.

The Bathurst Netball Association’s under 21s will contest the championship division, while the 17s will try to once again replicate their top 10 success of the two previous years.

Even in the face of a very limited preparation, Bathurst under 17s coach Melissa Noonan has been impressed with what her team has done so far this season.

In the Central West State League competition, the team finished as runners-up after a three-week build up.

“We started our training after the first week of February. It’s a shorter season than what we’re used to, but the girls have all trained together really well,” Noonan said.

“This team is a combination of last year’s 15s and 17s. We’ve got four returning players from last year’s 17s, four from the 15s and two new players.

“The girls get on fantastically, they’ve bonded very well and it’s always good to see them laughing and smiling on the court.”

On the back of the solid State League form, the under 17s continued to impress. 

Their biggest highlight of the year to date is an overall victory at the Cowra carnival last month and prior to that Noonan’s side picked up a pair of runner-up results at Bathurst and Orange carnivals.

The State Championships have tested this age group in recent times with a pair of eighth place results over the past two years.

The weekend’s competition will be a huge test of fitness and depth with 21 matches to be played by the Bathurst team.

Matches will run for 26 minutes, with just two minutes between games. Still, Noonan believes they are ready for the arduous schedule.

“The girls are very used to that. Most have played in this competition before, so they know the format,” Noonan said.

“The 15s in their first year in division two last year managed to come 14th which was great. 

“I think the girls can be very competitive again assuming that everyone’s in one piece by the end of the games. It’s going to be very exciting.”

BATHURST UNDER 17s: Sophie Cant, Shoni Catt, Amy Cole, Libby Crampton, Carina Floyd, Chelsea Gibbs, Hannah Nobes, Maddie Ogilvy, Frances Orman, Georgia Vickery.