Positional switches brought netball chances

Press, 20 July 1977, Page 22

Positional switches brought netball chances

One of the youngest vice-captains of a Canterbury senior sports team must surely be Janice Henderson, a 19-year-old student teacher who excels at netball. A talented player, Janice began playing netball at Tai Tapu school 10 years ago. She started as a goal attack, but on mov-

ing to St Margaret’s College she was immediately changed to goal defence. It was in this position that she represented Canterbury for the first time, playing for the under 17 team. Two years later Janice again gained representative selection, moving into the under 21 team, which she captained

in 1976. The goal defence position for Canterbury has been held by the New Zealand representative, Maxine Blomquist, and it seemed unlikely that Janice would make the step into the Canterbury senior side.

However, deficiencies in her own club side, Hagley, caused the coach, Cath Brown, to move Janice into the vital centre posi< tion, from which, in previous years Christine Pietzner, had so ably headed the Canterbury attack.

Janice says it took a few weeks to settle into her new position, but now she really enjoys it — and it was as a centre that the selectors chose her to replace Mrs Pietzner, who had retired.

A player of natural ability, Janice has a high level of ball skills. She is grateful to her coach at St Margaret’s, Mrs Fay Mangos, who, she says, “encouraged me, stimulated my interest in the game, and gave many hours of her time helping the College team.” Janice Henderson is not only a netballer; she plays tennis for the Elmwood club, and has represented Canterbury as a long jumper.

The Canterbury netball team will play Wellington in Christchurch next Sunday. An ankle injury prevented the talented teenager from playing against Otago, and so she is keener than ever for a chance to help lead Canterbury to a win against the rival with which it shares the national title.