Katanning hosts Great Southern teams in successful West Coast Fever Primary School Cup

Twenty schools from around the Great Southern gathered in Katanning on Friday for the 2023 West Coast Fever Primary School Cup.

About 400 Year 5 and 6 students, representing 43 teams, hit the courts in a round-robin style tournament at Katanning Leisure Centre’s outdoor and indoor courts.

The event was run by Netball WA Great Southern and Albany had the strongest representation with six schools making the journey up, while hosts Katanning had three.

Kojonup Primary School, Tambellup Primary School, Wellstead Primary School and Mt Barker Community College were among the other schools that competed.

The teams were split into four separate divisions Year 6 boys, Year 6 girls, Year 5/6 girls and Year 5/6 mixed who were split into two pools, blue and pink.

In all, 118 group-stage games were played on 16 courts, with each game consisting of two 10-minute halves to determine the grand finalists.

St Joseph’s College Albany claimed the Year 6 girls title after beating Mt Lockyer Primary School 13-6 in the grand final.

Denmark Primary School defeated Great Southern Grammar 11-7 to win the Year 6 boys competition.

In the other results of the day, Denmark Primary defeated Spencer Park 12-7 taking out the Year 5/6 girls division, Tambellup Primary were big 13-2 winners against Jerramungup 2 to claim the Year 5/6 mixed blue division and Spencer Park beat Katanning Primary 12-6 for the Year 5/6 mixed pink division.

Netball WA’s Great Southern membership co-ordinator and regional team leader Kelly Dominiak and development co-ordinator Gail Butterworth organised the day which was one of the biggest carnivals in a decade.

This year’s competition saw six more schools compete than last year but Dominiak said there was still room for growth.

“We had around 400 students today from 20 schools which is the most we have had in about 10 years,” Dominiak said.

“Last year we had 14 schools and, given its success, more schools wanted to take part.

“Netball WA Great Southern looks after Narrogin, down to Esperance and across to Denmark so, I think in future we will see even more schools competing in future.

“Netball is becoming increasingly more popular amongst boys and I think that’s why more schools are eager to take part in the carnival.