THE 2018-2019 netball season started off with Kilwinning Netball Club securing funding from their new sponsors, The Cornerhouse, Kilwinning. This helped the purchase of new warm-up tops sporting the club logo, thereby strengthening their identity in the Ayrshire and Glasgow netball leagues.

The Ayrshire District Netball League began with the Cunningham Cup tournament on October 1, with Kilwinning Comets lifting the trophy, having won the final match in a hard-fought game against Ayr 1. This was a promising start with three new young players joining Comets on their first outing of the 2018-2019 season. The club members celebrated in The Cornerhouse afterwards.

The Ayrshire District Netball League began on October 2 and saw Kilwinning growing in numbers with three teams entering the league competition for the 2018-2019 season. A week later, Kilwinning Comets and Kilwinning Galaxy had to reschedule their first league matches due to Scottish Cup commitments. Kilwinning Stars, a newly-formed team made their debut in the league on November 5, facing tough opposition in their first outing against last years’ league winners, Ayr 1. This was followed by a closely-fought match against Ayr 2 on November 11, which saw Stars lose narrowly 25-20 whilst showing good teamwork and development.

Kilwinning Galaxy have had three outings in the Ayrshire league against tough opposition in Phoenix (a new team to the league from Paisley), Shortlees 1 and the newly formed Stewarton 1 team. Although not securing a win yet, each match saw the Galaxy girls put up a good display of netball with team bonding and understanding on court developing with every moment of match play.

Kilwinning Comets have been in action on three weekends since the beginning of the Ayrshire season against Stewarton 1, Shortlees 2 and Phoenix. The new Comets combination of more experienced players mixed with a few young players is showing great promise with three strong wins (beating Stewarton 54-32, Shortlees 2 90-13 and Phoenix 60-32).

The Glasgow Netball season started on September 5, with the Kilwinning Glasgow Squad of 12 players making a strong start with six wins from six games to date and placing them at the top of the Third Division.

The squad face tough opposition tomorrow (Wednesday) against a strong St Andrew’s Netball Club first team, who have five wins and no losses to date.

It’s an exciting time seeing netball once again increasing in popularity and Kilwinning Netball Club are always looking to encourage new players of all ages (over 15) to join our expanding senior club. Netball provide a great opportunity to get fitter, make new friends and develop skills. The Club aims to provide pathways for player, umpire and coaching development for girls/women in Ayrshire.

There is much to look forward to including next month's Festive Fun Night and ‘Still Game’ Games Night in 2018. Before that the training and league matches continue.

Anyone interested in joining the cub please head for the Portal, Irvine on a Monday, from 8pm until 9.30pm. The cost is only £3 per session and we also welcome recreational players as playing in the leagues is optional. For more details contact club Coach Martha Thomson on 07769 691562 or search for the club on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.