Auckland takes netball

Press, 29 August 1977, Page 3

Auckland takes netball

PA Hamilton Auckland’s polished, well balanced team thoroughly deserved its first grade title at the New Zealand netball championships at Hamilton. Auckland renewed its hold on the New Zealand Cup after losing it to the joint champions, Canterbury and Wellington, last season. Auckland won in 1973 but lost the next year to Wellington and Waikato. Wellington and Waikato played enterprising, strong netball, and were on terms again this year, four points behind Auckland.

North Shore, which earlier in the week loomed as a strong threat to Auckland, faded slightly to fifth place, one point ahead of . Canterbury. Weakened by injuries, Canterbury acquitted itself very well and with the

development of several promising young players should be a strong force again within the next year or two. For the first time King Country finished at the top of the second grade. Next year it will make its debut in the first grade. The third grade honours were shared by Ashburton and Otago Country, while Marlborough ip the fourth grade finished two points clear after beating its closest rival, South Canterbury Minor, on the final day.

A North versus South match was played in torrential rain and a thunderstorm. Although South led at one stage North won, 33-28.

After the match the following 21 New Zealand trialists were announced. A team will be selected to meet the touring TrinidadTobago team early next season.

Marge Allison (North Shore), Maxine Blomquist (Canterbury), Pauline Clark (Auckland), Isohel Coote (Nelson), Janis Cramond (North Shore), Ruth Fathers (North Shore), Carolyn Gray (Waikato), Jackie Heke (Auckland), Jill Jones (Waikato), Margaret Kamana (Wellington), Geane Katae (Canterbury), Pauline Knaggs (Wellington), Shannon Lovell (North Shore), Sue McKay (Auckland), Leigh Mills (Canterbury), Marilyn Munro (Wellington), Lyn Parker (Waikato), Margaret Pattilo (Auckland), Adrianne Prattley (Canterbury), Yvonne Willering (Auckland), Sharon Wilson (Auckland).

Results:— First grade: Auckland 44, Matamata 11; South Canterbury 39. Manawatu 23; Canterbury 36 North Shore 31; Rotorua 38,

Hawke’s Bay 24; Waikato 43, Otago 26; Wellington 51, Nelson 22; Auckland 3V, ivorth bhore 22; Matamata 36, Hawke’s Bay 28; Rotorua 33, Manawatu 31; Wellington 38, Canterbury 26; Otago 34. Nelson 28; Waikato 43, South Canterbury 27. Final points: Auckland 22, Wellington 18, Waikato JB, North Shore 15, Canterbury 14. South Canterbury 10, Rotorua 10, Nelson 9, Manawatu 6, Otago 6, Hawke’s Bay 2, Matamata 2. Second grade: Canterbury Country 40, Southland Country 24; South Waikato 33, Auckland Sub-associations 21; Soutli Auckland 41. West-Auckland Districts 22; Southland 25, Povertv Bay 23; Wanganui 34, Hutt Valley 31; King Country 43, Western Bay of Plenty 16; Hutt Valley 36, South Auckland 32; Western Bay of Plenty 28. West Auckland Districts 23; King Country 28, Southland 23; Wanganui 29, Canterbury Country 29; Poverty Bay 34, Auckland Sub-associa. tions 18; South Waikato 31, Southland Country 30.

Final points: King Country 21, Wanganui 19, Hutt Valley 16, South Auckland 15, Canterbury Country 15, Southland 12, South Waikato 10, West-Auckland Districts 8, Western Bay of Plenty 8, Auckland Sub-associations 4, Poverty Bay 2, Southland Country 2. Third grade: Wellington Minor 35, Horowhenua 21; Eastern Bay! of Plenty 39, Wairarapa 21; Temuka and Districts 28, Taranaki 23; Waikato Sub-associations 35, Thames Valley 30; Ashburton 28,1 Northland 25; Otago Country 30, West Coast 28; Wellington Minor 37, Taranaki 17; Eastern Bay of Plenty 32, Horowhenua 19; Otago Country 31, Thames Valley 22; Waikato Sub-associations 25, Temuka and Districts 18; Northland 41, West Coast 25; Ashburton 39, Wairarapa 21. Final points: Ashburton 19, Otago Country 19, Waikato Sub. associations 16, Temuka and Districts 15, Thames Valley 14. Northland 13, Eastern Bay of Plenty 12, Horowhenua 6, West: Coast 6, Taranaki 4, Wairarapa 4, Wellington Minor 4. Fourth grade: Te Kawau 40, Hawke’s Bay Minor 16; Wairoa 27, North Otago 19; Manawatu Minor 24, Hutt Valley Minor 19; Nelson Minor 28, Poverty BayEast Coast 26; Marlborough 33, South Canterbury Minor 28. Final points: Marlborough 18, South Canterbury 16, Te Kawau 12, Nelson Minor 10, Manawatu Minor 10, Wairoa 8. North Otago 7, Poverty Bay-East Coast 7, Hutt Valley Minor 2, Hawke’s Bav Minor 0.