Maitland Blacks kick off milestone season for seniors and juniors

To celebrate the start of the year the Blacks are holding a combined junior and senior season launch at Marcellin Park kicking off from 3pm for the juniors and running through the day, with the formal launch at 5pm.

Blacks senior president Ben Emmett said the club was excited about the coming season with a host of activities to mark the senior and junior anniversaries as well as the Blacks Netball Club’s 10th anniversary.

“It’s first time in the club’s history we are celebrating the senior and junior season launches at the one event,”  Emmett said.

“We’ve got a big year of events for both the seniors and juniors which we will be celebrating as the one club.”

Saturday will be a huge day at Marcellin Park with trial matches from Colts through to first grade starting from 11.30am. First grade kick off is at 3pm.

“Saturday will be our last trial matches before the season proper kicks off on April 8,” Emmett said.

“We’ve got games against Merewether Carlton in colts, third grade, second grade and first grade. It’s an important day for the coaches as they will be looking to finalise their teams before our round one game against Southern Beaches on April 8.”

The juniors have this weekend off but will be taking part in a pre-season tournament at Marcellin Park on April 1-2.

Emmett said the season launch would begin with introduction of junior teams and coaches and continue through the grades.

He said there would be plenty of activities for youngsters including face painting and two jumping castles.

For the young at heart there will a band, tug of war, bear crawl races and plenty of other fun activities.

Patrons will be able to purchase food from food trucks (Mexican and kebabs).  Drinks will be on sale at the 1877 Club shed.

Emmett said the club was looking forward to celebrating their rich history during the year and hopefully will be able to unearth some heirlooms of the past.

The club has won nine premierships in the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union in the post-World War II era –1969, 1974 (tied), 1976, 1977, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1998, 1999.

The club’s internationals include C.J.B. White  who played in the first ever Test on Australian soil in 1899 and more recently Luke Burgess and Nic White.

Saturday’s trial games:

Colts: 11.30am-12.40pm, 3 x 20min 5 minute breaks

Third grade: 12.45pm-1.55pm, 3 x 20min 5 minute breaks

Second grade: 2pm-3.10pm, 3 x 20min 5 minute breaks

First grade: 3.15pm-4.40pm, 2 x 40min