ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
SPORT
NETBALL By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC THE Valley Rats open mixed netball team won gold last week in the 2023 Rotorua Australasian Police & Emergency Services Games. Consisting of local police officers from across the Valley, the Rats played a tournament style event across three days. In a dominant display, the Rats won their first game 43 goals to Victoria Police Netball Club’s (VPNC) 25. They went on to stun their second round opposition 52 to 7. Captain Allan Bateman led the charge to the final in a superclass tournament performance by Latrobe Valley’s finest. The final proved to be a tighter game as the two teams had history, the Rats having beat VPNC 12 months ago in the Victorian Police and Emergency Service Games. In the gold medal match, the Valley Rats led the whole game. Allan Bateman continued to assert his dominance in Goal Attack, barely missing a shot. But, it was not all smooth sailing for the Rats when Wing Attack Chrissy Walsh went down with a calf strain in the third quarter. Despite injury worries, VPNC could do little to stop the Rats natural court transition and mid court precision. The Latrobe Valley Rat’s proved too strong and took home the gold in a 32 to 22 victory. The Rats are now looking to defend their Victorian title at the Victoria Police and Emergency Service games later this month at the Waverly Netball Centre. In its 18th edition, held in Rotorua New Zealand across from March 3 to March 10, over 60 different sporting events were held. The APES games fosters friendship and promotes a healthy lifestyle via athletic participation, while also raising public awareness of the Police and Emergency Services. The APES Games are held every two years in a different venue, giving athletes the opportunity to travel and have a vacation in several areas around Australia and New Zealand.
Photos: Supplied
