Penola rejoined the Senior Mixed Netball competition after a hiatus of a few years. 25 students signed up with 14 being selected for the competition team. Mixed netball requires the usual 7 players, with a minimum of 2 males on the court at all times with only 1 male permitted to play in each quarter.

The inclusion of players of different genders changes team dynamics, adding extra elevation and pace, but Penola found it hard to adjust to the control required to play netball and in our first game and loss (6-12) versus Marymeade College we gave away multiple possessions as we stepped far too much. After the loss we faced St Francis -Melton, and the application of more control saw us take the lead with Jack D popping up some goals, winning 11-9.

Salesian College Sunbury were strong from the first whistle, but Ellie M was not going to be pushed around and was on fire with some long bombs, their fitness was exemplary and as they applied pressure, we couldn’t match it and we lost 22-7.

Our final game was well matched versus St Monica’s, Bridget M was unstoppable with multiple 2 handed intercepts in the mid-court to keep feeding the goalers, at the final whistle it was 14-14. A well-run and enjoyable tournament that we will enter again next year.

Best Player: Ellie M
Coach: Miss McKeown