Friends clash at netball carnival

On again: Competitors from last year’s Daily Examiner Netball Challenge will be back on the courts today.

CLUB friendships will be left on the sidelines when five Clarence Valley high schools embark on the 2010 Daily Examiner Netball Challenge today.

For about 20 years the prestigious carnival has pitted the region’s finest students against one another over two days and five matches.

Three divisions – Year 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12 – will take part in the event, with finals to be held on September 15.

Action begins at 12.30pm today at the Westward Park courts.

For Grafton Netball Association president Cathy Walls, the inter-school rivalry continues to keep the competition firing.

Walls’ 27-year-old daughter took part in one of the earliest events – and it still remains a highlight.

“It’s putting friends against friends and the kids love it,” Walls said.

“It’s a great rivalry.”

Open champions McAuley Catholic College will join Maclean, Grafton and South Grafton High Schools as well as Clarence Valley Anglican School in the mix.

Teams play in a round-robin format before finalists in each division are decided at the end of the day.

“You have got all your young representative players who go to different schools so it will be great to watch,” Walls said.

“It’s always a great competition with the schools.”

Walls floated the idea of returning the competition to a two-division format from 2011 to ensure the best players squared off in each match.