N.Z. coach confident of winning netball test

Press, 29 April 1978, Page 52

N.Z. coach confident of winning netball test

New Zealand has high hopes of taking the netball test series against Trinidad and Tobago by winning the second and final international at the 1 lagley courts this afternoon. The first test, in Palmerston North on Thursday, was drawn.

The New Zealand coach, Mrs Lois Muir, was pleased with the efforts of her players in the first test, and has

retained the same side for today*s game. When asked for a prediction on the outcome she said simply: “We will win.”

Mrs Muir denied that she had predicted a New Zealand defeat at Palmerston North. Rather, she had emphasised that New Zealand would go into the first test as the underdog because Trinidad and Tobago had an experienced side which had just returned from an unbeaten tour of England. The New Zealand side had been confined to a two-and-a-half week build-up. with no match play, and was rela-

tively inexperienced. She felt New Zealand had played a clean, open game in Palmerston North. It had the will to win, but in the final quarter, when the vis-1 iting team made its spirited! come-back, its lack of experience in how to control a game was evident.

New Zealand has not had an international match either at home or abroad since the worla tournament in Auckland in 1975. But the national side will make a twoweek tour of New South Wales in June, and it is hoped that it will have more international competition before the next world tournament, in Trinidad in August, 1979.

I The New Zealand side for , today will have Margaret 'Kamana, who scored 33 (goals in Palmerston North, at goal shoot, Maxine I Blomquist- at goal attack, (Leigh Mills, wing attack, Xyn Parker, the captain, ‘centre. Pauline Knaggs, wing defence, Yvonne Willering, igoal defence, and Marilyn Munro, goal keep. I The Trinidad and Tobago team will not be announced until noon, but it is certain to include the highly experienced goal shoot, Jean Pierre, and the lofty goal (defence. Althea Thomas. The coach of the visiting side, Mrs Lystra Lewis, was delighted with the big crowo

at Palmerston North and the pleasure it obviously got from the game.

It appreciated the different style of play produced by the Trinidad and Tobago girls. New Zealand continually used the two-handed shoulder pass and the chest

pass, but Trinidad and Tobago displayed a greater variety of catching and throwing, employing th' spectacular one-handed catcl and the bounce and under arm pass. Mrs Lewis felt her team had a stronger vertica take and played a more “aerial,” game.

She paid tribute to the surfaces of the New Zealand courts. Trinidad is famous for its pitches and, she said the New Zealand courts were of a similar standard. The visiting team had played particularly well at Palmerston North — in fact, it was the best performance Trinidad and Tobago had put up against New Zealand. Trailing, 20-26 at the start of the final quarter, the team rose to the occasion and shot accurately. The attacks had a higher average of success than New Zealand’s, and this was the crucial factor.

The second test, the first netball international to be held in Christchurch, will start at 2.30 p.m.