Maccabi teams enjoy bright start to season

“THERE was so much excitement by our players to be back on the courts, playing competition netball, and a lot of determination and energy,” Maccabi NSW Netball Club’s new president Michelle Samuel told The AJN during the first round of the 2023 Randwick Netball Association season last Saturday at the Heffron courts. Fielding 17 teams this season, Maccabi did well in round one, with all four of their U9 Net Set Go Program teams winning on the day, and four junior teams earning wins, while both of their open women’s teams coasted to easy wins. The pick of their junior team victories were a gutsy 7-5 win by the Maccabi Lime 12 division 5 against Souths Juniors, and a dominant 23-12 win to the Maccabi Blue 13 division 3 side over Randwick Rugby and Netball Club Yellow, in which they led from start to finish. Maccabi 12 Lime coach Hannah Lax said, “This group responds really well to advice, they try their hardest, and in just a few weeks of pre-season training, I could see how they’ve improved so much.” Chelsea Lahav, coach of Maccabi 13 Blue, said her players “love the game, love playing together, and they go for every ball”. Maccabi’s open women’s B1 team – featuring Australian youth Maccabiah squad member Chloe Kovkin and experienced player Shayna Slotar – beat Kambala 33-27, while their B2 women’s team – featuring seven members of the Australian gold-medal-winning masters Maccabiah squad – thumped Bondi Phoenix Pink 42-23. Samuel said the club has very experienced and dedicated coaches, and has introduced a series of specialist skills clinics that will be offered during the season, in addition to weekly training. The first session, held last Sunday, focused on defence. “My goal as the new president is to continue to make the club an inclusive and welcoming one, and to provide more opportunities to improve players’ skills,” Samuel said.

Credit AJN