On Friday 8 August, a talented group of Junior School students proudly represented St Catherine’s at the Netball Victoria School Championships, held at the State Netball Centre. Excitement was high as we boarded the bus, ready for a day of competition and fun. 

Upon arrival, we set up camp inside the stadium and began our warm-up under the guidance of super coach, Ms Johansen. The girls were focused and eager to hit the court, aiming to finish top of our pool and progress to the finals. In an exciting format for many of our students, the day involved seven matches, each consisting of two seven-minute halves. This year’s primary school rules also meant that teams could be full of boys with no restrictions, presenting our girls with a new challenge and valuable learning opportunity. 

The Matches
We opened the day against Holy Rosary School, and after a tight first half, the girls found their rhythm to secure a 10–2 victory.

In Round 2, we faced Donvale Christian College and their mixed team including five boys. Our students rose to the challenge, adapting their strategies and taking the win 10–6.

Round 3 against Templestowe Park Primary School saw Ms Johansen experimenting with different positions and tactics, leading to a close but decisive 9–6 win. 

Round 4 brought our toughest opponent of the day, Belmont Primary School. Scouted earlier as a strong team, they quickly jumped to a four-point lead. Some smart substitutions and strong defensive work brought us back within two goals at half-time. In the dying seconds of the game, trailing by one, Adelaide Holland found herself on the edge of the goal circle with just a second remaining. In her own words, “I had one second left, so I just threw it up.” The ball sailed through the net to equalise the match 9–9, a moment that will be remembered as the shot of the day! 

Fatigue was starting to set in for Round 5 against local rivals Firbank Grammar, but the girls fought hard in a goal-for-goal battle, finishing with another 9–9 draw. 

We bounced back in Round 6 against Tucker Road Bentleigh Primary School, earning a 12–9 win.

In our final match, determined to finish on a high, the girls delivered an outstanding defensive and shooting performance to defeat their opponents 11–3. 

A Strong Finish
The day ended with St Catherine’s finishing second on the ladder, a fantastic achievement in a highly competitive field. More importantly, our girls gained valuable experience competing against schools from across the state, including mixed teams with boys, testing their adaptability and teamwork. 

A huge thank you to Ms Johansen for her expert coaching and to Natalie, our Head Coach of Netball, for her support throughout the day. Thank you also to all the parents for their encouragement and support, whether it was cheering courtside or helping behind the scenes, your involvement made the day even more special. We are incredibly proud of our players for their effort, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm, you represented St Catherine’s beautifully!