Red Tape Puts End To Charlestown's Hopes
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday May 9, 2007
CHARLESTOWN open women's netball side have been training since January with the NSW championships in mind.
But they will not get the chance to challenge for the state crown this year after an administration oversight in which their association did not submit their entry by the cut-off date of April 13.Disappointed Charlestown captain-coach Donna George had hoped for some leniency from Netball NSW."We found out about it when they put the provisional gradings on the internet," George said. "We weren't there so we phoned up, but they said they weren't accepting our application because we were late."It was an especially bitter pill to swallow for Charlestown, who became NSW State League region two champions on Sunday.They were runners-up in the open minor division at the NSW titles last year and had their sights set on becoming state champions this year."Charlestown have placed in the last six years at state," George said."The draw is not even done up yet, nothing is concrete, so I don't see why they can't accept us. We want to get back there and try to win it, since we got runners-up last year."The players are just shattered because we have been training since January and we're paying a fitness instructor every week. It's what you drive for the state titles."Charlestown's under-17 team will also miss out on the state titles.Charlestown Netball Association president Dianne Pascoe sympathised with the players but said the outcome could not be changed.She met with Netball NSW president Wendy Archer and Netball NSW board members on Sunday to see if there was anything that could be done. But, in accordance with the rules, there wasn't."We were at fault and we just have to cop it on the chin," Pascoe said. "It's absolutely shattering for the players but it's equally as shattering for our secretary [Marie Caddies], who has made one mistake in 20 years of service."
© 2007 Newcastle Herald
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