Organisers said the teams hit the road to take part in the annual Wagga Wagga carnival. 

Club spokeswoman Bev Tarlinton said the event is a lead-up to bigger tournaments. 

“This was the last major hit out for all teams prior to the state championships and saw a large number of entries in all divisions,” Tarlinton said. 

Tarlinton said each of the squads played 10 games in one day, and faced stiff competition from Wagga Wagga, Wodonga and Canberra teams. 

“For the 13s and 14s, the day proved difficult with entries from opponents ranked higher than them both,” Tarlinton said. 

However, Tarlinton said the local girls stood up well to the challenge. 

“The coaches and managers from both these teams reported excellent improvement across the day, with a positive attitude from all their girls.”

Despite a tough time in the younger ranks, Tarlinton said the senior groups had a better day. 

“The 15s team reported a better showing against previous Canberra opponents and wins over Barellan, Leeton and Young to finish the day with five wins, a draw and four tough losses.

“It was a much deserved result for the team,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the 17s finished fourth overall with several wins, and a thrilling one-goal win over the higher ranked Wagga team. 

“The girls showed fantastic teamwork and timing all day,” coach Krystle Fowler said. 

“[It is] an encouraging sign before the weekend’s state championships,” she said.

Tarlinton said she was thrilled by the resilience of the open squad. 

“The opens team went into this carnival under strength and with a new player added to the ranks.

“The team soon smoothed out its combinations to go through the day undefeated with 10 wins,” she said. 

Both the 17s and opens squads advance to the state championships to be held in Sydney this weekend. 

Meanwhile, in local netball news, a carnival set down for Sunday had to be cancelled due to the weather. 

Organisers said the courts were unplayable with the deluge of rainfall and made conditions unsafe for entrants. 

Bega District Netball Association president Trish Warby said Sunday morning was okay to make a start, but rain soon set in. 

“We did start it hoping that the rain would hold off, but conditions got way too wet and it was our duty of care to the players and umpires to call it off,” Warby said. 

Warby said the club was disappointed, but will look to reschedule the carnival. 

“It was disappointing that it didn’t go ahead.

“The committee hasn’t decided when the event will run, but we’ll discuss that and it will be held before the end of the local competition,” she said. 

Warby said despite the cancellation, the club was excited about two teams making the state championships. 

“The Bega club wishes its representative players, umpires, coaches and managers luck at the state championships in Sydney this weekend,” she said.