Never has a school entered a mixed netball team into the PSSA Western Netball competition, at least not until Raglan Public School did so this year.
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And Raglan have swept every opposition in its path to book itself a date with Orange Public School in the competition's semi-final.
Raglan coach and teacher Natalie Cross said she's extremely proud of how well her team has performed.
"This is the furthest these kids have gone in the new format, which is just a straight knockout," she said.
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"Before they would win their first game and then go to carnival and the winner of the carnival went through to the semis.
"They're the first mix team to progress this far and the only mix team in the competition."
After defeating Eglinton and Blayney Public School by more than 20 goals in the opening two rounds, Raglan went up against Bathurst Public School for a spot in the semi-final.
Down by five goals at the end of the first quarter, Raglan rallied to fight back and claim a thrilling 17-16 win over Bathurst, booking itself a spot in the semi-finals.
Traditionally the competition has been a girls one, however, there's never been an explicit rule not allowing boys to compete.
They're the first mix team to progress this far ...
- Natalie Cross
Cross said a majority of the netballers in the team represent the school in a number of other sports, due to the school's small numbers compared to others.
"We're a small school compared to others, having only 250 compared to 600 kids. It makes our selection a lot trickier. That's why I start training them in year three, year four," she said.
"They come to school early to train. They've set it all up before I get to school, so it's just turned into something they really love to do.
"These kids also represent us in every other sport as well, so the football kids, they're the district swimmers and runners as well. Their biggest asset is their fitness and they know each other so well.
"They're self driven, they've got really proud and supportive parents, who have been a huge part of this journey."
There's no hiding the success Orange enjoys when it comes to netball and Cross knows all about it, hailing from the city herself.
She's expecting a tough match against Orange Public School.
"It'll be very hard. They're exceptional," she said.
"Bathurst is a very hockey-driven town, but Orange has always been a heavy netball town.
"The difference is the Orange kids play together on Saturday but our kids don't, they play soccer, footy and other things. They really need that skill by playing together, knowing each other off by heart, for it to be easy."
Raglan will play Orange Public School in Bathurst at the John Matthews Sporting Complex, however, a date is yet to be finalised due to the current COVID-19 restrictions affecting Orange.
The two schools were meant to play each other by the end of the month, but it's expected the scheduling of the match will be given leeway due to restrictions.
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