NELSON Bay’s decorated representative netball convenor Amanda Wilks has enhanced her proud record at the NSW State Netball Junior titles.

The long-serving mentor joined forces with daughter Taylar to guide the rising 14 years team to a sixth placed ranking in Division Four at the prestigious three day carnival at Baulkham Hills.

Just as impressive were the Nelson Bay 13 years side coached by Taylah and Kerry Whitty that also achieved a sixth place finish in the Division Three competition.

It follows the Association’s success at the 2023 event where the club brought home championship titles in the 12 years and Senior Open categories.

“This is another huge achievement by our small association with the girls stepping up and holding their own against some of the finest junior netballers in NSW,” a proud Amanda told News Of The Area.

“Our squad members played with distinction and showed their skills and competitive spirit throughout the carnival,” she added.

Nelson Bay’s talented 13 years line-up chalked up thirteen wins and a draw from their nineteen matches – a tremendous feat.

They defeated Griffith (12-7), Great Lakes (16-7), Ballina (9-2), Narrabri (14-3), Queanbeyan (10-6), Scone (14-8), Yass (10-8), Bellingen (10-4), Manning Valley (13-4), Lower Clarence (11-6), Port Stephens (20-9), Southern Highlands (14-7), Temora (23-12) and drew 10-10 with Woy Woy.

Their only losses were to eventual champions Mount Druitt (16-8), runners up Macleay (11-5), third ranked Grafton (18-7), fourth placed Tamworth (11-8) and fifth ranked Kurri Kurri (7-6).

Leading the way were squad members Liberty Phillips, Sophie Edwards, Lilly Holliday, Millah Brown, Alyssa Schein, Kobie Clarke, Emma Tibbs, Ciara Cullen, Kaitlin Burgess and training partners Eva Hanrahan and April Eggins.

Nelson Bay’s emerging 14 years outfit won ten matches and lost seven to also achieve a top six finish.

The Bay defeated Gunnedah (21-6), Parramatta-Auburn (19-9), Temora (17-10), Parkes & District (19-8), Armidale (17-6), Port Stephens (15-11), Scone (18-9), Tumut (15-13), Blayney (18-7) and Inverell (21-15) and were gallant in defeat against eventual champions Woolgoolga (22-10), runners up Coolamon (13-8), third ranked Yass (11-8), fourth placed West Wyalong (9-5), fifth ranked Sapphire Coast (12-10), seventh placed Casino (14-13) and Wollondilly (12-11).

Players to feature were Lucy Solomon-James, Ella O’Loughlin, Georgia Burgess, Piper Mullins, Kiola Cheviot, Abigail Skinner, Hartley Cobb-Hamilton, Gabby McCallum, Tayla Provis, Maggie Laughton and Reegan Clarke.

Nelson Bay also registered a top ten finish in the 12 years Division Three series – securing tenth spot along with Port Stephens Netball Association in the 12 years Division Four competition.

The Port Stephens rep teams showed plenty of courage and skill to finish tenth in the 14 years Division Four tournament while the club grabbed seventeenth spot in the 13 years Division Three category.

By Chris KARAS