Four senior netball players from Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) are on their way to the Netball NZ U18 National Championships in Dunedin this weekend - the culmination of years of training and commitment.

MAC year 13 players Sophie Walsh, Millie East and Coco Bentley and year 12 player Ella Asberg are members of the Central Lakes Under 18 representative team that will be attending the tournament, along with three players from Dunstan High School, three from Cromwell College, and two from Wakatipu High School.

“The girls have been building towards this for the last few years in their senior A environment,” Central Lakes Under 18 co-coach Megan Anderson told the Wānaka App.

The national tournament is “the perfect environment” to showcase Central Otago talent, she added.

The dedicated team has formed “strong bonds”, says co-coach Megan Anderson.

The under 18 environment is “where the Silver Ferns are selected”, she said, and there will be people there who are involved in the National Netball League (for players over 18).

Megan said there will also be selectors at the tournament looking for players for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.

At the most recent tournament in Eastern Southland the Central Lakes team won all its games.

“From the dedication and intensity at practices and pre-national tournaments the girls are coming together really well,” Megan said. “There are some strong bonds forming.”

MAC players Sophie Walsh (GA) shooting for goal, Ella Asberg (WA), and Millie East (Centre).

“I’m pretty happy with how we’re tracking.”

She said there are challenges for rural teams, not the least being bringing together players from such a wide region.

“The biggest challenge is helping to form those connections within the team so that it’s seamless on court… But they’ve all been dedicated to making that work.”

This is the second year the Central Lakes team has been selected from across the Upper Clutha, Central Otago, and Wakatipu.

Megan said being selected to the team was an achievement, and the new, wider region means strong teams are being put forward for tournaments.

The Netball NZ U18 National Championships will take place from July 15-17 at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.

PHOTOS: Prue Walsh