Strong trio excels in netball

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34126, 12 April 1976, Page 25

Strong trio excels in netball

Technical A, Sacred Heart A, Burnside A, and Teachers’ College impressed as tjie strongest contenders for the Canterbury netball title after the grading matches on Saturday. The early fitness of these teams meant that they made fewer mistakes.

Burnside B must be considered unlucky to miss promotion into the senior grade. It won senior reserve last season and thus the right to challenge Sacred Heart B, and it looked the stronger of the two teams on Saturday. Unfortunately, Burnside could not penetrate the strong defence of the Sacred Heart goal keep, Sally Mene. Mrs Mene made brilliant interceptions and was an inspiration to her team. Bumside had an early lead and maintained it for most of the match, but Sacred Heart scored a goal right on the final whistle leaving the scores tied at 23-23.

Technical A 27, Sacred Heart 1» Sacred Heart has three new members in its senior side, and has not yet really settled into its combinations. However, the new players — Sara Fitzgerald (wing attack), Leone Constable (centre), and Vivienne Ritchie (goal defence) — are no strangers to senior netball, as former members of the B side, and the team should be much stronger by the opening round. Technical A is more fortunate, as it has only one new team member, Lyn Caughley (goal keep), a former Ashburton player. Frances Granger has a difficult task this season, as she has to lead the Technical side and coach it as well. The other senior teams will provide tougher competition for the national club champion this time, tt is hoped. Burnside A 35, Rlccarton A 29

There were a number of new faces in the Burnside side but, 1 nevertheless, it looked just as

strong as last year’s team, its main strength appears to lie in defence, where Hazel Brown (wing defence) and Heather Brown (goal keep) have a sisterly understanding that is going to be hard to counter. Time and time again on Saturday Riccarton’s forwards were unable to get rebound possession and the two new Burnside forwards. Debbie Bergin and Beverley Uren, were quick to capitalise on the many opportunities their defence gave them. Riccarton worked hard but was too often forced to shoot from the edge of the circle. The two newcomers, Sheila McManus (goal keep) and Fay Robinson (wing played effectively, but needed more support from the forwards. St Nicholas 32, Cashmere 29 This game was marred by the careless infringements and poor passing that characterised much of early season play on Saturday. The scoring was very even for much of the game, Cashmere being slightly ahead in the early stages. At half-time Cashmere ( led. 17-15. In the second half St Nicholas tightened its defence and the 14-year-old, Ann Davidson, playing her first senior game, shot accurately. Her career will be watched with interest.

Teachers* College 29, Hagley 16 In the hardest-fought game of the afternoon Teachers’ College emerged a well-deserved winner over Hagley. The game was notable for the outstanding goal-shooting of the College player, Carol Honeybone, who remained unruffled even when under considerable pressure.

Both team’s defence lines were satisfactory. Odette Cockeril, Alison Alborough and Julie Wilson (College) gained many inter*ceptions though as the result of thei * greater application. The Hagley forward line tried to work into favourable shooting positions but inadequate ball control meant many passes went

astray. Christine Pietzner tried hard to lead Hagley but was always well covered by her College opposite number, Daphne White. The College wing attack, Sue Erasmussen, showed the benefit of her representative experience last year, working tirelessly with the goal attack, Phillipa Gill, the only newcomer in the side. College led narrowly for most of the match, but eventually achieved a 13-goal victory by sustaining pressure and capitalising on the weaknesses of its opponents.