Season draws to an end

COMING to the end of anything is always bittersweet.

We played our last games of competition netball for the year on the weekend and it is sad that we will not see some of the players again until next year.

But for others, this marks the start of the finals series and that brings its own excitement.

There were a lot of netta players away this week. This was disappointing, but it allowed a few of the older players to play up in the under-12 division and get a taste of what netball will be like next year.

I hope to see all netta back for the last few weeks as we have some fun lined up.

This Saturday will be dads' and players' day.

Should be heaps of fun to see the dads take to the courts and learn from their children what a great sport this is.

Netta will continue right up to September 18, the end of the finals series.

There will be face painting and a jumping castle (9.30am-12.30pm) to add to the fun.

In the intermediate division, we are sad to farewell Hot Chilli Girls and Feisty Chihuahuas who came in fifth and sixth.

The Hot Chilli girls have shown so much improvement over the year that I am sure if they had a few more weeks, they would have claimed a finals position.

Feisty Chihuahuas also finished on a high by showing their determination and love of the game at the carnival where they played seven games and were still bouncing in the final encounter.

Well done to all these girls.

The intermediate A division had five teams, so one team had to bow out.

In the end it was Sparks, but this was not a sure thing until the final whistle on Saturday.

The girls showed the spirit we have all enjoyed all year. This team created our Murwillumbah chant, and they embody the words.

They pass, they shoot, they score, but they remind us there is so much more to the game. They run, they have fun, they get fit in the sun.

So going into the finals series, the minor premiers in each grade will take on the number two team while three will play four. The winners of three and four will then play the loser of one and two. The winner of this match-up will go to the grand finals.

This week's draw: Netta: Dads and netta players, Netta courts 10.30am. Intermediate B: Bogangar Beach Blasters (M.P) v Geckos Court 9, 9am. Drifters v Hammerheads Court 11 9am. Intermediate A: The Storm (M. P) v Southern Cross Stars Court 9, 10.30am. BCU Spice Girls v X-Factor Court 11, 10.30am. Open: Tigers v Newbies Court 9, noon. Flamin Devils (M.P) v Waratahs Court 9, 1.30pm.