NELSON Bay’s tournament-winning female junior touch footballers are hungry for more success.
Fresh from their spirited Grand Final triumph over Singleton at the recent Peter Wilson Memorial Cup, the high flying Neptunes Under 12 Girls representative squad are ready to show their wares at the upcoming Junior State Cup championships in Dubbo.
The Cup win drew comparisons with other champion Nelson Bay women’s teams and underlined the potential in the Port Stephens junior nursery.
Under the coaching of Corlette’s Trent Colley, Shoal Bay’s Cal Mitchell and local Lisa Rawlins, the Neptunes’ Under 12s Class of 2026 are building a reputation as one of the finest to pull on the sky blue and gold colours.
Nelson Bay have produced some outstanding junior touch football talent over the years including current Australian Emus youth international middle and NSW Touch Junior Female Player of the Year Ali Mitchell.
Middle maestro Ali has engineered previous championship title wins at the Peter Wilson Cup event which is the largest regional tournament in NSW and second biggest overall behind the prestigious Junior State Cup.
A delighted Colley told News Of The Area that the girls had quickly struck up a “dynamic combination” since coming together at the end of last September.
“We were able to get three months of solid training behind us before the Peter Wilson Cup and developed some strong connections across the park,” the Belmont High School principal reflected.
“Leading into the tournament the girls found their groove with slick performances at the Wallsend Junior Gala Day in heavy conditions,” he said.
Colley, a former top grade opening batsman with University of NSW in Sydney grade cricket, knows how to perform under pressure.
He scored valuable runs for the NSW Country Blues on their way to capturing the 2012-13 National Country Cricket Championship trophy.
The Under 12s posted back-to-back drop off victories and showed nerves of steel during the Wilson Cup titles at Tomaree Sports Complex.
Colley and crew are blessed with six classy middles in Zoe Peters, Luna Kneipp, Ayana Parker, Sailor Jenkins, Eden Colley and Stella Schein.
Plus talented links in Eva Turner, Emilia Mooney, Reegan Moyle, Havana Borg, Laylah Standing, Remy Evans and Isla Trayling, and sharp wingers in Faith Earl and Lukah Moyle.
“The girls will step up a class at the Junior State Cup but will give it their best shot and do the region proud,” Trent said.
By Chris KARAS
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