Maccabi Netball Shine in Season Opener

THERE was lots of excitement and anticipation among all our teams,” Maccabi NSW Netball Club president Michelle Samuel told The AJN, courtside at Heffron Reserve last Saturday, during a
memorable first round of the 2025 Randwick Netball Association season.

With Maccabi fielding six Net Set Go (U8 and U9) teams, 16 junior teams, an intermediate team and two adult teams, Samuel said the Jewish club is in great shape, “and we’re continuing to grow
across all the age divisions”. “During the pre-season, we’ve boosted our coaching ranks, focused on skills development and today, five of our members made their match umpiring debuts.”
Samuel said another exciting development at Maccabi is the creation of the club’s first U9 talent development team – guided by experienced coach Katia Cignetti – who play up an age group, in the
U10 division 5 competition.

They had a bright start in round one, earning an 11-0 victory over Mascot. “This is the first time we have a development team and it is full of young players with lots of potential – they are our club’s future,” Samuel said. Other teams on the first round winners’ list were Maccabi Silver in U10 division 6 (11-1 over St Spyridon), Maccabi Blue in U11 division 3 (25-5 over MRSL), Maccabi White in U13 division 5 (17-16 over RBM) and Maccabi White in intermediate division 7 (35-27 over MRSL). In U12 division 2, Maccabi White – who were promoted up a division – had a narrow 21-28 loss to RBM.
Maccabi is fielding two U14 teams in the top division for the first time, in another positive for the club, and while they both lost in round one, they will be better for the experience.

Credit: AJN