Karratha wins gold in netball North West Championships

Hundred’s gathered in Broome last weekend to watch the region’s best netball teams go head-to-head in this year’s North West Championships, with Karratha reclaiming their title and bringing home gold from the competition.

Taking place at the Broome Recreational and Aquatic Centre on June 16-18, more than 300 players and coaches from eight towns as far away as Kununurra and Paraburdoo competed in the highly anticipated tournament to determine the North West’s top team.

Broome’s junior and senior teams began the weekend with a promising start by smashing their competitors in Round 1 and securing wins for five out of six divisions, falling short of securing all with Karratha’s Division 2 claiming victory against Broome, 42-28.

Karratha maintained comfortable leads against their competitors for all their games through to Round 3, with Broome and Port Hedland also proving to be top contestants in the contest.

The semi-finals were Broome’s biggest and most successful day for the whole competition, smashing their rivals throughout most divisions and breaking Karratha’s undefeated streak in a nail-biting contest between the Under 16’s, 29-30.

However, it came down to the top teams who made it to the grand final.

Spirits were high at the courts with hundreds of supporters lining the sidelines to cheer on their hometown’s teams — drowning each other out with rounds of applause and synchronised chants filling the air.

It was the last dance for Broome and Karratha who fought it out till the end, earning themselves top positions in the finals.

While Port Hedland’s under 14’s also made their way into the finals, Karratha asserted their dominance and maintained their lead, 33-25.

Still reeling on the high from their wins the previous day, Broome came in strong and confident but appeared to have pushed themselves to the max and slowed down for the main event.

Broome’s junior teams suffered a devastating loss to Karratha, with the Under 12’s and Under 16’s copping a 14 and 11-point loss respectively.

Port Hedland’s Division 2 had one last crack at the competition and threw themselves at Broome, taking advantage of their fatigue and earning their victory, 53-38.

Ultimately, it was Karratha’s time to reclaim their title from last year’s stiff competition — smashing Broome in their own home town and taking home five gold medals across all divisions.

Results

12U Finals

Karratha (22) def Broome (8)

14U Finals

Karratha (33) def Port Hedland (25)

16U Final

Karratha (31) def Broome (20)

Masters

Karratha (36) def Broome (20)

Open Division 2

Port Hedland (53) def Broome (38)

Open Division 1

Karratha (64) def Broome (55)

Awards

Best Dressed: Kununurra’s U12’s

Rising Star Coach: Keely Fitzpatrick (Broome Netball Association)

Rising Star Umpire: Dominic Rann (Broome Netball Association)

Coach of the Meet: Jessica Johnson (Tom Price Association)

Umpire of the Meet: Alicia Spurr (Tom Price Association)