N.Z. netballers begin defence with 90-12 win

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32494, 2 January 1971, Page 3

N.Z. netballers begin defence with 90-12 win

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) KINGSTON (Jamaica). New Zealand began the defence of its world netball championship yesterday with an impressive, 90-12, win over Northern Ireland.

However, although the score was decisive enough, it did not approach the world record established by New Zealand the last time it met Northern Ireland.

In the 1963 international tournament, New Zealand set the record win of 114-4. In the other opening-round matches, Australia beat Jamaica, 47-21; England beat Bahamas, 88-7; TrinidadTobago beat Wales, 45-19; and Jamaica beat Scotland, 48-18. IMPRESSIVE SHOOTING The New Zealand team against Northern Ireland was: J. Harnett (goal-attack), T. Vercoe (goal-defence), F. Wiring! (goal-shooter), S. Langrope (wing-attack), O. McKay (centre), L. Mair (goal-keeper) and B. Walker (goal-defence). Both Harnett and Wiring! were in fine shooting form. Wiringi was successful with 62 of her 80 attempts at goal,

and Harnett scored 28 out of 34. Although Northern Ireland was no match for the New Zealand team in any part of the court, its goal-keeper, M. Anderson, who is playing in her first international tournament, worked tirelessly to intercept many New Zealand passes in the third quarter, when the New Zealanders, assured of victory, started throwing away many passes. Such play will need attention when the opposition is stronger. Langrope played a particularly good game, getting many interceptions in midcourt. Walker and Vercoe also played excellent games, making impressive interceptions which kept the ball from the Northern Ireland goalshoot, who had only 20 attempts at goal. Understanding and co-ordi-nation were apparent in the play of Harnett, Langrope. McKay and Wiringi. New Zealand’s lead was decisive throughout. It was

ahead 25-2 at the end of thei first quarter, both teams doubled their scores by the half-way mark to 52-4, and after the end of the third quarter, the score was 69-10. Jamaica was in fine form beating a weak Scottish team and the Australians had an easy win over Jamaica. England also built an impressive winning margin but the Bahamas team seemed to be the weakest in both scoring and court work in the tournament.