A CHARMING picturesque country town in the Hunter region has put itself on the netball sporting map.
Historic Dungog is famous for producing sporting sons like legendary Test cricketer Doug Walters, triple equestrian Olympian Kevin Bacon, NSW rugby league forward Henry “Tarzan” Porter who won premierships with Newtown and Canterbury-Bankstown, and current South Sydney colt Tallis Duncan who has taken the NRL by storm.
Now the Dungog & District Netball Association is the organisation on everyone’s lips after their representative teams’ outstanding deeds at this year’s Netball NSW State Senior and Junior titles in Sydney.
Last month the small association made pundits sit up and take notice when their under-15s representative outfit won the State Division Four championship while the under-17s finished a creditable fifth.
There was more joy for Dungog at the recent HART State Junior Netball titles at Narellan Sports Hub when the talented under-12s lineup returned home with Blue Patches after claiming the runners-up tag in the Division Four category.
For both astute coach Jess Murray and team manager Brandi Palermo it was a significant achievement.
They mentored the association’s sole junior team to compete at the State titles and came within an ace of bringing home the trophy.
The Dungog under-12s won 18 of their 20 fixtures to finish equal with overall champions Narrabri on 36 points, who took the honours on percentages.
A proud Murray told News Of The Area that her charges executed their skills and found a “will to win” during the entire
three days of the prestigious netball event.
“The girls were a delight to coach and grew in confidence with each victory during a pressure packed schedule,” reflected Jess, who was an ace goal shooter with Port Stephens representative teams in her heyday.
She was ably supported by the experienced Palermo, who also earned her representative netball spurs with Port Stephens as a fierce defender.
Five members of the 10-player squad hail from Medowie – promising centre Ashlee Drake, wing attack Violet Davison, sharp shooter Sophie Campbell and top goalkeeper and goal defence prospects Kayla Hladky and Zoe Bevear.
All were key factors in the team’s success along with skilful midcourters Ashleigh Walters, Lexi Mitchell, rising goal shooters Amber Parrish and Loxley Vella and capable defender Josie Boyton.
Eight of the team graduated from last year’s under-11 Development squad that was coached by Murray with Sophie and Amber the two valuable acquisitions.
Dungog chalked up victories over Leeton (21-3), Coolamon Comets (15-8), Temora (17-4), Tumut (14-8), Young (16-4), Grafton (20-9), Casino (16-9), Wollondilly (21-6), Blayney (21-8), Armidale (10-7), Port Stephens (13-3), Forbes (12-10), Gunnedah (18-6), Parkes (9-6), Sapphire Coast (15-6), Cowra (22-5), Brunswick-Byron (24-1) and Gloucester (30-3).
The side tasted defeat only twice, with losses to trophy-winners Narrabri (16-4) and seventh-ranked Eurobodalla (15-11).
“A big factor was the team’s versatility, sound defence and ability to convert scoring opportunities that put the girls in the title mix,” Jess said.
By Chris KARAS
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