Bullets end six-year hiatus as one of two new teams to join Albany Netball Association A1 competition

Bullets Netball Club will end a six-year break from the A1 competition when they take to the court in the Albany Netball Association’s top competition that begins on Saturday. After last playing in the top tier back in 2015, Bullets performed strongly in the A2 competition last season but lost the grand final. However their performance was enough to earn a place in the A1 division this year as the ANA returns to normality following a shortened 2020 due to COVID. In an expanding A-grade competition, Narrikup will field a second team to make up an eight-team competition. Premiers Narrikup 1 remain in the A1 competition from last year along with Railways 1, Royals Saints 1, Grammar Griffins 1, Kangas 1 and Magpies 1. Bethel were also in the mix to play A1 this season but the association decided against an uneven amount of teams and having a bye. Bullets captain and vice-president Rachel Adams said the club was excited about being back in A1. “The club hasn’t had an A1 side since 2015, so it gives our upcoming players something to aim for,” she said. “We were meant to be in A1 last season but with COVID we got dropped back into A2 and the club was rather disappointed, but this year being in A1 we can show that we are a really strong club. “We’ve had a few years of rebuilding, so we will make our presence known. “We have quite a solid team, I think we have a lot of talent and it’s great to have some of the Albany girls joining some of the girls that have been in the club for years.” Adams said Renae Walker was the only new player to the club that would play in A1. “I think it’s a really great opportunity for those girls that have been in the club for years and have put in the hard yards and been loyal to Bullets to be able to play A1,” she said. “We are just so excited we are able to be part of the competition because we don’t want to lose talented players because we don’t have an A1 team so by doing this we are taking a step in the right direction to keep the club going strong.” The ANA has 96 teams registered in total with 42 of those in seven A-grade divisions, 26 across five B-grade divisions and D-grade has 28 teams across four divisions. “The A1 division will be a tightly contested competition with eight teams battling it out in this grade,” ANA president Trish Hines said. “It is exciting to see the addition of a second Narrikup team and Bullets back playing in this division. “The Albany Netball Association is looking forward to getting back to some sense of normality after the short season played last year under strict COVID-19 restrictions.” ANA A1 teams Narrikup 1 Last year: Premiers Coach: Lisa O’Farrell Team: Bree Dale, Emily Dyson, Casey Greay, Sheridan Kowald, Sian Lucas, Maryann McLeod, Erin Miller, Kristie Slater, Marianne Tutt. Railways 1 Last year: Runner-up Coach: Richelle Warren Team: Elissa Cale, Amber Congram, Amy De Goumois, Jessica Rintoul, Marni Smith, Kiera Stephens, Rowie Stewart, Shelby Upson, Hayley Williamson. Royals Saints 1 Last year: Third Coach: Carly Szczecinski Team: Maddie Dallimore, Nardia Humphries, Amy Hunter, Kathryn Jennings, Sophie Loveridge, Chelsi Mier, Taylah Orzel, Carly Szczecinski. Grammar 1 Last year: Fourth Coach: Jenny Cristinelli Team: Jasmine Butterworth, Isabella De Giambattista, Molly Dickson, Casey Griffiths, Paige Narkle, Amie Reid, Imogen Sivwright, Daisy Stewart-Morgan, Indi Weeden. Kangas 1 Last year: Fifth Coach: Kate Minter Team: Indigo Bew, Jaz Breuker, Hayley Hulm, Hannah Mackay, Holly Minter, Lily Minter, Nicole Newton, Rani Rawlinson, Marcia Trevenen, Jodi Ferry. Magpies 1 Last year: Sixth Coach: Rosemary Walter Team: Amy Dominiak, Grace Hardiman, Maggie Hardiman, Claire Holiday, Emma Holiday, Kelly Judd, Brittany Needs, Kylie Spencer, Claire Warburton. Narrikup 2 Last year: A2 winners Coach: Erin Sproule Team: Sophie Blackett, Rylee Davis, Tamara Ditchburn, Emily Holden, Daisy McLennan, Nakeesha Miniter, Tina Mundy, Laura Tugwell, Asha Wiegele. Bullets Last year: A2 runners-up Coach: Phil Dawson Team: Rachel Adams, Charlotte Boreham, Madeleine Brady, Larissa Oliver, Jo Scott, Kylie Scott, Michelle Skeggs, Renae Walker. ANA Fixtures A1 Round 1, Saturday, April 24 Kangas 1 v Magpies 1 — 1pm Bullets 1 v Narrikup 2 — 2.30pm Narrikup 1 v Railways 1 — 2.30pm Grammar 1 v Royals Saints 1 — 4pm