Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
The Australian Handball Federation [AHF] congratulates the u17 Girls Team in its participation in the u17 Girls Tournament arranged by the New Caledonia Handball Federation. The competition was held in Poindimie, New Caledonia during 4th – 9th November 2009.
Prior to the tournament, the team had a three-day training camp held at Valentine Sports Park in Sydney. The training camp provided team building and intensive court sessions to develop the team as an effective unit blending skills, with players coming from three states.
The u17 players and officials are as follows:
Player
No. Name Position State
1 Ellen Kromar Goalkeeper Australian Capital Territory
2 Mariel Soulard Centre Back Australian Capital Territory
3 Holly Tupper Left Back/Pivot Australian Capital Territory
4 Sally Cash Left Back New South Wales
5 Olivia Mowatt Wing New South Wales
6 Annalese Smith Left Wing New South Wales
7 Paulini Tawamacala Pivot New South Wales
8 Maddison Truesdale Right Wing Queensland
10 Brianna Keyes Left Wing New South Wales
11 Tayler Darlington Centre Back/
Right Back New South Wales
14 Claire Dennerley Pivot New South Wales
Jessica Fearnside Coach New South Wales
James Darlington Manager New South Wales
Shane Darlington Asst Manager New South Wales
Maddison Truesdale Captain Queensland
Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
The Australian u17 Girls Team played against the New Caledonia u18 Girls Team.
The competition was held over 4 days with one game played each day. The first game was lost by the Australian Team with a reasonably large margin but this was mainly due to nerves, not having played together previously and missing two players (a player was in hospital and Mariel Soulard from ACT, who acted as the Team’s interpreter). The second and third games were much closer with the Aussies only losing by 5-6 goals. The final game was again lost by a larger margin. This was due to three players had returned to Australia to complete the school certificate exams. Of the remaining eight players, half had injuries but they all fought on competitively to the final whistle.
Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
The Team’s Coach, Jessica Fearnside was optimistic over the Team’s performance at the tournament. “While the overall result is not what we wished for, the girls played well as a team which was our goal. For the majority of the games we were only down by one or two goals but unfortunately due to some injury and sickness, we were unable to narrow the gap closer. Maddy Truesdale, the Captain led the girls well and Mariel Soulard our French-speaking Aussie was invaluable throughout the trip. For the majority of the players, it was their first international handball competition. With more tours like this, the Team will gain the experience they need to improve.”
James Darlington, Team Manager, expressed great appreciation of the hospitality of the New Caledonia officials and players from the time they were met at the airport to the end of the tournament. He also commented that: “All the facilities were on the one campus which made everything run smoothly. With the stadium being across the street from our accommodation, we didn’t have to worry about getting transported to other venues. The location was perfect as the view from the stadium was amazing. The venue is designed so that when it gets too hot inside, the doors on the side of the building can be opened to let the fresh air in. With the stadium virtually on the beach, when they opened the doors, the view was breathtaking. You had the beach, surf and sun.”
Overall, the tournament provided the Australian u17 Girls Team memorable and valuable experience for the further development of their handball skills. The highest scorers for the Australian team were Tayler Darlington, Claire Dennerley and Maddison Truesdale.
AHF wishes to thank the New Caledonia Handball Federation for hosting and covering costs of the tournament, the local town officials and the spectators for the warm reception and support to the Australians. The tournament not only further strengthened the friendly ties between Australia and New Caledonia but also their collaboration in the development of handball in the Oceania Region.
