South Australia looks for back-to-back titles at this week’s national under-21 netball championships
KATE Easther hopes six years of hard work will pay off when she lines up beside her SA teammates for this week’s national under-21 netball championships.
KATE Easther hopes six years of hard work will come to fruition this week when she lines up alongside her SA teammates for the national under-21 netball championships.
The 21-year-old will co-captain the Croweaters as they bid for back-to-back underage titles at Netball SA Stadium.
Easther, who will play in the tournament for the third time, says the championships will be the pinnacle for her team, most of whom have played together in junior state sides since 2008.
“We’re a very experienced bunch and have played together for a few years now and gel nicely,” the wing defence says.
“Considering it’s my last year (in the under-21 side) it would be great to end with a big bang and have a crack at going back-to-back.
“The girls have worked so hard to get there over the past six years and this is the end result we all want.
“Winning would be amazing and great for SA netball.”
SA beat NSW in the 2013 decider in Canberra.
Easther, who grew up on the Yorke Peninsula, expects last year’s beaten finalists along with Victoria to provide the stiffest test for the home team.
“Those games (against NSW and Victoria) are very hard but you learn so much from them.
“It’s always nice to have a good hit-out against them, especially when you’re winning.”
Easther named her co-captain and Adelaide Thunderbirds centre Madeleine Proud as well as Garville goal shooter Georgie Virgo as players to watch for the hosts.
She says the 12-player squad, 10 of whom played in last year’s triumph, will rely on a tall defensive line-up and fast approach play to deliver another title.
“We just need to stick to our game plan,” the 179cm defender says.
“We play all our games like it’s just another game and try not to emphasise who’s in the opposition team too much.”
SA kicks off the tournament against Western Australia today at 10.30am at Netball SA Stadium, Railway Tce, Mile End South.
Matches continue daily with semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday.