Representative netball
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THE Leeton & District Netball Association has been crowned 15 years and under division four state champions after a successful campaign in Sydney last weekend.
The association sent three teams to the state age championships - 13s, 14s and 15s - with the older team the first from Leeton to return victorious.
All three Leeton teams played in division four, with the 14 years and under finishing fourth with 14 wins and five losses, while the 13 years and under side finished 18th position against some of the best netballing talent from across the state.
Played over three days, the 2014 Netball NSW State Age Championships featured 2800 matches and involved 306 teams representing 90 associations.
Leeton 15s coach Alison Evans was proud of her side.
"It was a tough tournament," she said.
"It was three long days, six games a day of two 12-minute halves."
While confident her side would be strong, Evans had no idea they would top the table, finishing with just one loss to claim the coveted title.
"There were three girls with injuries," she said.
"I always knew we had a chance to do well, but I didn't think we'd finish on top of the ladder.
"The first day they just gelled as a team.
"We only had one loss and on the first day we had a winning streak. The second day the girls were tired physically and we lost the first game 14-9 to Ulladulla. Then they came back and it was non-stop from there.
"It's physical and mental. There's no time for a rest."
Leeton & District finished ahead of Tamworth to clinch the title, winning a trophy and individual sew-on badges to recognise the achievement.
As the team was made up of older-age players, they will have to start all over again in the under 17s competition next year.