AFTER just a year in recess the Wimmera Netball Association under-15 B competition will return in 2018.
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Clubs had been given a deadline of December 31 to indicate whether or not they would be able to field a second under-15 team in 2018.
A minimum of five clubs were required for the association to run the competition. So far the Horsham Demons, Horsham Saints, Stawell Warriors, Ararat Rats and Minyip-Murtoa have indicated they will.
Association president Pauline Butler said she was excited for the competition to return.
“I know a lot of clubs missed the competition last year and a lot of players missed out because the competition wasn’t there,” she said. “We welcome it back because it is great for the league, great for competition and great for the juniors. It just means a lot more girls are going to be able to play netball – that’s what it is all about.”
A sixth team is still weighing up whether or not it will be able to field a team.
“If we had six that would be even better, but we don’t want to put any undue pressure on that club,” Butler said.
“We are unsure about whether the Southern Mallee Giants will have enough numbers to enable them to have a 15B team, but we are taking that one day at a time.”
Stawell netball director Kathryn Clayton said the club certainly had the required numbers last season.
“It was disappointing to see so many kids miss out,” she said. “We certainly have an interest in entering two teams this year.”
Clayton said having two under-15 netball divisions is crucial for the development of the sport in the region.
“It is a critical time for the girls at that age,” she said.
“If they don’t get to play and get plenty of opportunities we lose them to the club or the sport as a whole.”
Horsham Demons junior netball director Amanda Worthy said the club was relieved it was going ahead.
“It’s fantastic for all the young girls,” she said.
The Demons still selected an under-15 B squad last year and it competed in the night competition at Horsham Lanes and Games.
“We did not want to see them miss out so we trained as normal and played in the night competition,” Worthy said.
“We tried to keep it the same as possible including having a best and fairest night but it was not quite the same as playing on a Saturday with the club.
“The girls are excited to be playing against players their own age again.”
Ararat president David Jennings said the Rats are excited to see the second competition return.
"It is exciting to see it return, it will good for the junior players to get another team back into the competition after missing last year,” he said. "We will not have any problems fielding the team, we have plenty of players available.”
The competition’s reinstatement will be finalised at association first meeting on February 7.