WA Fourth at U21 National Championships

Western Australia has finished in fourth place at the U21 National Netball Championships held in Perth.

The WA team performed admirably under the guidance of WAIS head netball coach Michelle Wilkins, qualifying for the semi-finals at Challenge Stadium before being edged 50-48 by South Australia.

Trailing 14-10 at quarter-time, WA fought their way back into the game and levelled the scores ten minutes into the second stanza before Laura Packard and Chelsea Lemke shot the South Australians back into the lead at half-time, up 27-24.

With both sides guilty of turnovers, Adelaide Thunderbirds member Maddy Proud dictated the mid-court to see her side maintain a three goal advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Spurred on by the vocal WA crowd, the hosts battled their way back into the game to tie the match at 44-all with five minutes to play.

The calmness of South Australia prevailed in the dying minutes as they booked themselves a spot in the Grand Final against New South Wales, who defeated Victoria 45-37.

WA missed out on the bronze medal after being defeated in the third place playoff by Victoria 43-32.

The Western Australian group was recognised for a fine championship following the grand final, won by NSW – its fifth in as many years – with four athletes selected into the 21/U squad in preparation for August’s Youth International Series, where the squad will be trimmed from 22 to 12.

– with Netball Australia