The Dapto Lemons have continued their quest to win an Illawarra Netball premiership in the club's 50th year by claiming a 51-30 victory over Woonona Phoenix on Saturday.
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The victory came as Dapto Netball Club celebrated the anniversary at a dinner on Saturday night, with a number of the club's past premiership winning players returning for the event.
The Lemons currently sit second on the Illawarra ladder with five wins and one loss, two points behind undefeated competition leaders Wests Illawarra.
Dapto Netball Club life member Coleen Randall said the club has welcomed back a number of past players to aid in the quest to win this year's Illawarra Netball title.
"It was a very special occasion," Randall said. "The club has grown from 13 teams when we first entered the competition to now one of the largest clubs in the Illawarra with 42 teams in the local competition.
"All the girls in the Dapto Lemons have represented Illawarra at some stage. A lot have come back to play for Dapto for the 50th year to try and win the title."
The dinner saw the club celebrate their past and look towards the future, with founders including Les Waters and Maureen Sinclair in attendance.
Randall said the opportunities available for women and girls in the Illawarra have increased significantly since the club's founding, with many players going on to represent Illawarra and a small number progressing to higher honours.
One such player was Leah Price, nee Shoard, who represented Australia Under 21s and played in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy and trans-Tasman ANZ Championships.
Price was joined at the dinner by members of the Dapto Easy Beats, the club's greatest side. The Easy Beats claimed seven-straight Illawarra premierships from 1978 to 1984.
"Leah and a number of former players have reunited to play for the Lemons in the competition this year.
"We had most of the Easy Beats back again as well. Sadly Jackie Johnson and Jeanine Hahn who played in this team and were awarded life membership of the club have passed away in recent years."
In other Illawarra Netball fixtures last weekend, Wests continued their winning run by claiming a tense 23-21 victory over Woonona Swifts, Corrimal RSL defeated Shell Sporties 53-30 and the Southern Suburbs Vipers overcame Norths 46-40.
This week will see Wests face the Butchers, while the Lemons are set for a tough fixture against third-placed Corrimal RSL.
The Sporties will play the Vipers and the two Woonona teams will do battle when the Swifts play the Phoenix.
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