Albany Netball Association returns from Great Southern Regional Championships with two division titles

Albany Netball Association returned from the Great Southern Regional Championships with terrific results in four divisions at the weekend. The ANA sent teams in the under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 divisions, with two of those winning grand finals. Representative teams in the under-16 and under-18 divisions went undefeated in their pool games, semifinals and grand final. Albany’s under-18 squad beat Narrogin, Esperance and Denmark before facing off with Narrogin in their semifinal. The talented cohort outlasted Narrogin 37-24 in the semifinal to advance to the decider against Denmark, who finished their pool games with a draw, a win and a loss. In a back-and-forth encounter, Albany edged past Denmark 35-31 to cap a perfect campaign. The ANA sent two teams in the under-16 division, with team one dominating their division from the outset, recording crushing pool wins over Esperance, Denmark, Albany 2, Katanning and Narrogin. As a result, they faced off with second-placed Esperance in the grand final, storming to a thumping 56-10 victory. Albany 2 recorded four losses and a win in their qualifying games to finish fifth overall. Albany had two teams in the under-14 division, with team one going undefeated across their seven pool games before a heartbreaking grand final loss to Esperance. Wins against Esperance, Albany 2, Kojonup, Narrogin, Denmark and Katanning put them through to the decider against Esperance, before they fell to a 25-28 defeat. Denmark finished with five wins and two losses to finish third. Denmark won four of their pool games to finish atop the under-12 standings but fell short against Esperance in a 31-21 defeat in the grand final. Albany’s under-18 squad was awarded the sportsmanship award, while Denmark’s Amy Dominiak earned the rising star umpire award. Rosemary Wolter was named coach of the meet, and Madeleine Goerling was awarded the umpire of the meet trophy. Denmark’s Maggie Hardiman was named rising star coach, and Trish Hines received the volunteer of the year award.