Riccarton still at top of senior netball

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 22

Riccarton still at top of senior netball

The favourites had big wins i in the fifth round of the netball | championship at the Hagley • courts on Saturday. Riccarton is still alone at the i top of the table, after an impressive win against Cashmere, and Burnside was equally convincing in its one-sided game with Sacred Heart B. At this stage of the season, Burnside looks like one of two teams who will pose a challenge to Riccarton’s bid for the senior title. Technical looked polished in its easy win against the disappointing Hagley, and could be the other threat to Riccarton. Sacred Heart A should have had more goals on the board after its encounter with Burnside B. Nevertheless, it played! very well in the first half. St Nicholas took an early lead against Teachers’ College, and held on to it, despite a second-< half challenge from College. ; After nine rounds the senior: grade is divided into two sections. with five teams in each 1 division. Riccarton. Technical,! Sacred Heart A, and Burnside A look assured of a place in sec-i tion I. but the fifth place looks] to be in doubt. Teachers’ College,; St Nicholas and Hagley are the 1 most 'ikely contenders. Competition points to date:—i Riccarton 10, Technical 8, Sac-, red Heart A 8. Burnside A 8, St' Nicholas 5. Teachers’ College 4, Sacred Heart B 3. Hagley 2,! Cashmere 2. Burnside B 0. Riccarton 44, Cashmere 23 Cashmere was without its tai-: ented goal attack. Linda Shepherd. and this resulted in al lack of punch in the forward third. Riccarton, however, was in;

s excellent form, and was in com.linand from the first to the final ywhistle. The goalies, Julie McManus and Vicki Lassen, come bined nicely in the circle and i-shot well. The goal defence, Lynn Rowe, i-had a good game too, defending ewell and causing the Cashmere replacement goal attack to ini, fringe several times in her seiforts to get free. a Cashmere had trouble with its i* throw-off from the centre, and Riccarton was quick to take advantage. Riccarton players were -also swift to support one an--5 other, whereas Cashmere was a little slower. > For Cashmere, the centre, i Lynne Marshall, tried hard, and -in the second half the goal shoot, IPhillippa Rendall succeeded with some difficult attempts. I It was not enough to threaten I the championship leaders how--ever. and the final score was an accurate reflection of the game. Burnside A 37, Sacred Heart B 18 Burnside played superbly conitrolled netball for an easy win .over Sacred Heart. . The centre. Kay Scott, again ■ nlayed an important role for (Burnside, intercepting, passing .and encouraging her team to vic■torv. Scott and the wing attack, Karen Pyne, fed the goal circle -intelligently, and the goal shoot, ■Adrienne Prattley, positioned : herself nicely for the lob pass. . Sacred Heart’s coach. Joan .Harnett filled the goal attack position as a replacement, and • she shot very well from the i ■few chances she was given. Sac-! • red Heart found it very difficult ( i to break down the smooth com-! I bination of Burnside, which | moved the ball swiftly Into its I i accurate goalies. !

The Secred Heart goal-keeper, Margaret Taylor, made some good interceptions, but Burnside was untroubled to .win. Sacred Heart A 32, Burnside B 12 Experience and a height advantage helped Sacred Heart to a big win over the young Burnside players. Sacred Heart’s goal shoot, Penny Berry was quickly on target, and succeeded with some excellent shots from the edge of the circle. Sacred Heart had eight goals on the board before their opponents managed to score. Vicki Royale fed the circle well, and long, accurate passes into Berry gave the Burnside defence ho chance. However, their two shoots, Deidre Snow and Christine Annan, were able to retrieve rebounds from their taller opponents. Sacred Heart held a 13 goal lead at half-time which must have made it complacent, as it into the lead, with Grainger and Foster shooting accurately. Hagley had early possession, but L. Pugh and V. Henderson were unable to complete the court move. with a netted shot looked sloppy in the second half. Careless passing cost it the ! chance to score goals, and Burn-! side was quick to the loose balls, j Tb.e wing defence. Sue Robei*ts, [ made some good interceptions, i However, Saered Heart — with Brenda Rovvberry again dominating mid-court play — went on toI a reasonably convincing victory. \

Sf Nicholas 27, Teachers College 17 College were unsettled on defence, due to the absence of two defence players, and the St Nicholas attacks were quick to take advantage in the goal circle. Ann Davidson shot confidently, and with accuracy. The St Nicholas centre, Christine Griffin, had her best game to date, spearheading the attack to the head of the circle. Ample possession and fine shooting by J. Paneia and Davidson gave St Nicholas a healthy lead of 18-7 at half time. College opened strongly in the second half and began playing as a team, with its defences, Jane Eddington and Alison Alborough, combining more effectively to contain Davidson. Barbara Kreft, the St Nicholas keeper, had had an outstanding game in the first half, but College’s Carol Honeybone was effective in the second half shooting beautifully. This helped the College challenge, but the massive lead gained by St Nicholas in the first half was too much to overcome. Technical 36, Hagley 21 In an effort to gain greater team effectiveness. Hagley has completely rearranged its playing positions.. The goal defence. Janice Henderson, moved into centre and is quickly establishing a good rapport with the former centre, Lee Ann Jones, who moved into wing attack. The only team member in her former position is the keeper. Emily Regan. With further match play Hagley’s game should improve. Technical also had replacements due to injury: France Grainger and Merle Holland were at home in goal attack and centre, and Technical soon went and Technical keeper L. Caugh ley and the goal defence, M Blomquist, were quick to the rebounds, swinging plav in Technical’s favour. , At time the score was 19-/ to Technical.

Hagley forwards lifted play in the second half, and began shoot mg with accuracy. However the defence, D. Barnett, looked tired and Grainger began to have it all her own way.

Canterbury under-21 trialists: Jane Eddington, Phillippa Gill (Teachers’ College); Jennifer Redmon, Diana Sullivan (Villa A); Patricia Latham, Ann Davidson (St Nicholas); Vicki Glendenning (Hagley); Penny Berry (Sacred Heart); Lynda Shepherd Tessa Jones (Cashmere>; Karen Ericson, Fauces Mapleston (New Brighton); Jan Thompson (Wycola); Leah Milnes (Technical); Vicki Lassen, Julie McManus (Riccarton); Sue Flanaghan, Alison Bendall, Debbie Johnstone (Burnside). The. first trial will be held at Hagley on Saturday, May 23, at 9.30 a.m.