Strong state netball squad

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38183, 24 March 1973, Page 4

Strong state netball squad

A unique record in Victorian netball was established recently when Stella, Margaret and Jean Gollan were included in the state squad to visit Canterbury, the tour beginning next Wednesday. This was the first time that three sisters had been named in a Victorian team —and the first time the Gollan girls had been in the same state side. Stella Gollan. 25. a physical education teacher, is sft lOJin and plays on defence. She has gained Victorian honours seven times, has played for Australia in two world tournaments and toured New Zealand twice. Margaret, 22, sft BHn. a primary school techer, is a goaler who has also represented Victoria seven times and appeared in one world series. Jean. 19. is the tallest at sft Ulin, and this is the first time she has been named in a Victorian team. Like Margaret, she is a goaler and for the last two

years has been selected in the state under 21 side. Other team members to have achieved Australian honours are the vicecaptain, N. Olsen, A. Gibson and B. Taylor, with the captain, M. Caldow, K. Williams, S. Purvis, and N. Plummer having played in the Victorian team more than one season. The Victorian association has a record number of night teams, with 200 playing in the stadium, 64 competing on two outside courts at Flemington and 80 playing on four outside courts at Waverley. Victoria. with its 344 teams in action weekly, may be compared with Canterbury’s 385 teams, but differs in that all of Canterbury’s inter-club play takes place on a Saturday on 32 hard courts—the largest netball area in New Zealand.

Victoria has always been a strong contender for the Australian championship, but last season was placed third in the tournament after losses to West Australia by two goals and South Australia by one goal. This very strong Vic-

torian side should provide an interesting challenge to Canterbury when the teams meet at Canterbury Court on Monday night,' April 11, in the feature game of the tour.

As yet, the composition of the Canterbury side is uncertain, as trials are still in progress. It is probable that the nucleus of the team will be drawn from last season’s representative players. A possible Canterbury team might be E. Price, S. Richards, J. Harnett, S. Langrope, C. Cotterill, S. Mene, S. Rogers. B. Rowberry, and L. Burney.

An interesting itinerary, drawn up by members of the Canterbury executive, has been designed to give, the Australian tourists the opportunity to see Hanmer and North Canterbury areas, with the Timaru association entertaining them on the week-end of April 9.

The Australians will compete in round-robin tourna ments in Christchurch, Kaikoura. North Canterbury, and Timaru. These contests have been designed to give as many teams as possible the opportunity of playing against the visitors. The Victorian team will also participate in the Canterbury senior tournament on March 31. This should prove interesting from the representative aspect, as the selectors will have the opportunity to view the Canterbury candidates competing against their Australian counterparts in an endeavour to secure a place in the representative team for the match at Canterbury Court.

A Canterbury secondary schools team has also been selected to compete against the Australians on April 4.