Kurri Kurri’s senior netball team is heading away to the state championships this weekend with “no expectations” after a tumultuous lead-up to the event.
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After being promoted from second division to championship division, the team lost five players and were only able to late register four replacements, meaning they’ll play the three day competition with only one reserve.
“It’s going to be hard,” captain/coach Jess Stephens said. “We’re just going to go away and do what we can.”
Kurri Kurri finished in the top five in division two last year. Normally only the top two teams are promoted, but thanks to some new teams joining the competition this year five were moved up.
Stephens said the team’s goal was to beat the other teams that are new to championship division and be competitive with the others.
“If nothing else we’re going to make every team work for their win,” she said. “And we’re going to learn so much.”
The competition will contain a coalfields clash that will see Kurri Kurri take on Maitland.
The Kurri Kurri under-17s have a bit more of a goal – a top 10 finish in division three of the competition.
After a slow start registering players, Stephens said the young team has gelled well throughout the year, finishing a carnival at Cessnock undefeated.
“They’ve got some really good players, one has played NSW indoor in her age group,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll surprise themselves.”
The state championships will be held in Gosford from Saturday to Monday.