A new netball team has entered the arena in 2022, with the BGH Breakers participating in their inaugural season in the Southern Tasmanian Netball Association’s Winter Roster. BGH Breakers is a new sport and wellbeing community club representing the suburbs of Bridgewater, Gagebrook and Herdsmans Cove in Southern Tasmania. With support from Brighton Council, Grassroots Community Development and AYC Netball Club, a dedicated team of eight participants not only competed in but thrived in the 13&U competition. As we approach the business end of the season, it’s timely to reflect on the team’s journey as netball newcomers.
BGH Breakers provides opportunities for the residents of Bridgewater, Gagebrook and Herdmans Cove to represent their community in organised competition sport. BGH Breakers’ chairperson Scott Wade said, “The club has been established to field teams in any and all sports the community wants to participate in. There was a group of eight enthusiastic girls who wanted to play netball so with the support of Wrest Point, the Contact Group and AYC that’s what we did.”
The team was initially established with funds donated by Wrest Point and then presented with striking new purple, red and orange uniforms thanks to sponsorship from Contact Group while AYC Netball Club partnered with BGH Breakers. AYC President Yvonne Jackson looks forward to extending the affiliation.
“We were able to support BGH Breakers in appointing coach Shanika Braslin to encourage skill and team development,” Jackson states. “Hosting training within the local area allowed players to commit with more ease and less worry about transport.”
The AYC BGH Breakers took to the court with confidence back in March at season start. AYC club members supported the newly formed team with some pre-season sessions early in the year to ensure that preparations were in place for the year ahead. Winning their first two games on the trot set the scene for what has resulted in a successful year for the team. Their win/loss ratio sits at 12/4 from their 16 matches, with an impressive goals for percentage of 148.22% after outscoring their opponents by 95 goals. As a result, AYC BGH Breakers placed second on the ladder at home and away season end, earning them a chance to play off in the qualifying semi-final. A tense affair saw the Breakers victorious by just one goal over top placed rival HTC Friends, which has seen them sail through to the Grand Final to be held on Saturday September 17th at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre. They await the preliminary final result to determine their opponent. Following finals, the Breakers will be invited to attend the AYC Junior Presentation Dinner, to celebrate their inaugural season in STNA’s winter competition. While this group of young netballers has formed the first team, they certainly won’t be the last that we see in the purple, red and orange.
