Basketball pushes netball out of Bunbury

An explosion in the popularity of junior basketball will force the three Bunbury-based South West Netball Football League clubs to move to Australind next season.

Carey Park, South Bunbury and Bunbury will have most of their home games transferred to the Leschenault Leisure Centre after the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers secured a deal to expand their WABL fixtures into the South West Sports Centre.

Last season Slammers juniors played their home games exclusively at the Eaton Recreation Centre but an increase in the number of teams in the competition led the club to seek out new courts.

SWNFL coordinator Dawn Testrow said she was informed last month that the three courts at the South West Sports Centre were no longer available every Sunday during winter, sparking a mad scramble to secure a new netball venue.

"The Slammers previously just played at Eaton but they have now also booked the three courts at the South West Sports Centre for most of the season," she said.

"There are a few Sundays that the SWSC courts are still available but most of the Bunbury clubs' home games will have to be moved to the Leschenault Leisure Centre."

The State-wide WABL competition, which runs on Sundays, clashes with a number of SWNFL fixtures, which mirror those of the South West Football League.

Testrow said she understood the SWSC's decision from a business standpoint but was worried about the impact it would have on netball in the region.

"Two of the four courts at the Leschenault Leisure Centre are painted cement courts rather than sprung wood floors which are not ideal for the more senior players in the competition," she said.

"Maybe the 17s can get away with playing on the harder surface but the older you get the harder it is on your legs."

Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault was previously the only SWNFL playing out of the Leschenault Leisure Centre and will retain its home ground advantage through first choice of court whenever Lions games clash with those of the Bunbury clubs.

LATEST

Donnybrook Fire 'Suspicious'

22,000 Services, 50 Years, and Still 'Special'

Bunker Bay Ramp Improves Beach Access

Click here to go mobile with iNFOGO - local everywhere