Fern Bay triumphant in Netball Schools Cup carnival at Raymond Terrace

FERN Bay Public School netballers are celebrating one of their proudest sporting achievements.

The school’s Year 5 and 6 competitive team remained undefeated after taking out the Raymond Terrace leg of the Netball NSW Schools Cup series at Port Stephens Netball Association courts last Thursday, with a 10-7 Grand Final victory over St Pauls Primary Rutherford Pink.

It capped a memorable day for the all conquering Fern Bay girls who won all Pool A matches against St Michaels Nelson Bay 5-1, Tenambit 15-0 and St Paul’s Rutherford 5-2, before tipping out Thornton Public School 5-3 in a thrilling semi-final.

Fern Bay and St Paul’s Rutherford will now progress to the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Finals on 12 September in Maitland.

St Michael’s Nelson Bay flew the Port Stephens flag proudly to finish third after bowing out in the semi-finals.

After succumbing to St Paul’s, the Nelson Bay school produced their best form on the day to clinch the third and fourth play-off with an emphatic 16-9 win over Thornton Public School.

Seaham Public School claimed fifth spot after edging out the talented Soldiers Point Public School lineup 14-10 in the fifth and sixth play-off.

An opening round 5-1 loss to eventual champions Fern Bay sparked St Michaels into action.

They responded with impressive victories over St Paul’s Rutherford 12-3 and Tenambit 8-4 before tasting defeat against Pool B winners St Paul’s Pink in a semi-final.

Soldiers Point drew 10-all with Thornton before registering losses to St Paul’s Pink and Seaham Public School 9-4 in the preliminary rounds.

Other Port Stephens schools to compete included St Brigid’s Primary School and Irrawang Public School Raymond Terrace, Salt Ash Public School, Tanilba Bay Public School and Wirreanda Public School Medowie.

By Chris KARAS