WHEN this year’s West-Central West Regional League gets underway at the Bathurst Indoor Sports Stadium this Sunday it’s going to have a different vibe for the home side.
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That’s because the division one team will enter the competition as defending champions.
After two decades of Orange dominance Bathurst broke through for a stunning victory in 2017, and that means a target has been painted on the backs on the blue and golds.
The man who coached Bathurst to that success, Michael Germech, returns for another bid at Regional League success.
He said it’s a whole new feeling coming into the competition defending the title.
“We are regional champs, and no-one can walk away from that or deny that. We wear that badge going into the new season,” he said.
“Sunday’s come awfully quick and the first game is the grand final rematch against Orange. We’re really looking forward to that.
“No-one will be the champion on the first Sunday. It will just be all about seeing the standard that we need to be playing at across the competition.”
Bathurst’s grand final rematch with Orange gets underway from 9am.
The other two teams in division one, Orange under 17s and Dubbo, face each other in the first round.
Bathurst has a presence in all divisions this Sunday, including both 15s and 17s in division three.
The top division squad contains plenty of players who were part of last year’s champion team but also some new and returning faces.
“Emma Miller is back in the team from two years ago,” Germech said.
“Kate Burns from Bulldogs A grade will play for us. The team’s been trying to get her back involved in rep netball for a few years now. Her sister Alisha [Glasgow] joins us and she’s another quality player.
“Rachel Murray comes across from basketball this year and she bring a lot of great skills to the team.
“Chloe Madden from Orange adds a bit of spice to the competition. She didn’t get a run with the Orange team so we were happy for her to come and play for us.
“Over the next six weeks we’re looking forward to a really intense competition.”
