The team is; Gabe McMillan (non playing captain), Meg Groat, Mel Cowhan, Monica Pascoe, Sarah Simmonds, Sarah Ridges, Tamara Hawken, Isabelle Cowhan, Alex Cowhan, Jess Zieltjes (unavailable Sunday), coach Robyn Kenny, manager Marg Spackman, umpire Carmen Stephens.

The team has been training together since February, and playing in the competition throughout March with the first of the rounds played at Bathurst.

The first game for the team was against Parkes, with the local Forbes team convincing winners over Parkes 42-36.

The second game for the day was against Bathurst. The game was very fast and Bathurst took an early lead in the first half.

The Forbes players picked up the pace in the second 30 minutes, and held the Bathurst team to win the half by one goal, but Bathurst took the winning points by 42 goals to 31.

Players’ player for day one was Alex Cowhan who played goal defence for the day, never giving up, and always supporting the team, and looking for intercepts.

The team has trained consistently, and improved, over the last month.

The second day of the State League competition was held last Sunday in Orange, with the Forbes team set a huge task of playing three fully timed hour games in one day.

All Forbes players have improved through the training weeks since the last round.

The team has picked up the pace of their games, and competed very successfully at Orange last week.

The first game was against Blayney with Forbes playing outstanding netball to win the game by 62-29.

Forbes was ahead by 29-15 at half time, and continued to work very hard to improve their lead.

The second game was against Cowra in a physical game. Forbes came out winners by 34-29, continuing their controlled netball for the full game.

The third game was against Dubbo who were undefeated in the competition.

This game was very physical throughout, and the Forbes players did not give up, although going down by 38-58. Dubbo took a good lead in the first quarter by 9 goals and slowly improved their postition through the game.

The goal count did not reflect on the standard and closeness of the game, with all Forbes players giving their best.

Players’ players for day two were Meg Groat and Sarah Simmonds.

The final postitons for the competition are; Dubbo, Bathurst, Forbes, Parkes, Cowra, Blayney.

The team will play Bathurst in the semi final this Sunday. The other semi final will be Dubbo playing Parkes.

The winners of both semi finals will go through to play the final and the losers will pay off for 3rd and 4th position.

The Forbes Team will be lead from the back by goal keeper Sarah Simmonds and and goal defence Alex Cowhan, who make a strong defence circle combination.

Wing defence and centre will be shared by Isi Cowhan and Monica Pascoe, both very quick around the court and very fit to take on the opposition.

Wing attack is Mel Cowhan. who has moved from the shooting cirle to the feeding role, and understands the movements of the shooters.

Goal attack is Meg Groat who is very fast, and leads the attack of the team in the goal third.

Tamara Hawken has moved from goal keeper to goal shooter, and has adjusted the postitional change, to become very versitile and an asset in both postitions.

Sarah Ridges has unforuntately had limited time on the court, due to an injury, and is just starting to pick up where she left off, as a great controller of the game, reading the play and setting up passes.

Unfortunately goal shooter Jess Zieltjes is unavailable for the finals and will be missed, after her outstaning improved performances during the series, and finishing on a high after the last rounds, where she took another huge step up in her standard of play.

The Forbes Netball Association wish the open representative team good luck on Sunday at Orange.