Upset wins tie three at top of netball table

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 7

Upset wins tie three at top of netball table

Rlccarton lost to Sacred Heart B and Hagley was beaten by St Nicholas in two big upsets in the senior netball competition at the Hagley Courts on Saturday. For the first time in several years the perennial leader of the competition. Technical, has now been joined by Sacred Heart B and St Nicholas. aU with three wins. Burnside A 4», Burnside B IB With the return of its shooter, Adrienne Prattley, from the New Zealand team, Burnside was at full strength for the match. Prattley shot well and Bumside A quickly began to accumulate goals. It had a useful height advantage which it used well throughout the court. Deidre Snow, playing in the shoot position rather than the attack, did not shine aa in previous games, throwing several wild passes which the keeper, Margaret Henderson, was quick to seize.

At half time, Snow moved back to goal-attack, which strengthened the combination in the circle still further. Prattley’s shooting was a delight and the play of the team appeared revitalised.

The centre for the B team, Debbie Bergin, and the wingattack, Penny Russell, used the dodge to come forward. They got the ball up to the circle but failed to penetrate the tight defence set up by Natalie Hall and Wai Taumanu. The shooter, Debbie Thurlow, appeared unsettled by the long arm of Taumanu and many shots went astray.

Teachers' College 30, Cashmere 20 The Mav school holidays depleted the College team and it took some time to settle into its new combination. From the outset Linda Shepherd and Dianne Martin looked formidable. Shepherd’s fluid movement made It difficult for Jane Eddington, the College defence, to get into the circle for a favourable defence Stance. Play see-sawed and goals came one for one. At half-time, College held a slender one-goal margin. In the second half College

lifted its play, with Eddington and the new keeper, Gill Hammond, developing an understanding in the Cashmere circle and, with a double defence on Martin, contained her shooting. In the College circle, Carol Honeybone left the .fieldwork to attacks, Sue Hume and Julie Muttimer. and this concentration on shooting paid dividends. With well directed feeding from Hume and Muttimer, she shot scarcely touching the ring and College drew ahead for a comfortable win.

Sacred Heart B 23, Rlccarton 14 This low scoring game reflected the strength of the defences in both the Rlccarton and Sacred Heart teams. Brenda Rowberry and Margaret Taylor were Invaluable for Sacred Heart as were Emily Regan and Julie McManus for Riccarton.

The forwards at both ends worked hard for possession and finally Bridget Hishon with two quick goals opened the scoring for Riccarton. Rowberry broke Riccarton’s centre pass and gave Sacred Heart its break. The attack, Gabrielle Martin, positioned herself well at the head of the circle to feed Penny Berry. Rlccarton lifted its play in the second half and, with nice shooting from Hishon. reduced the seven-goal lead to two. Sacred Heart’s concentration lapsed and it resorted to using cross-court nasses which were snapped up by the wing attack. Cathy Slave, and the centre, Karen Ericson. Riccarton played the ball skilfully round the goal circle looking'for the gap giving Sara Fitzgerald and Hishon further shooting opportunities and the score levelled to 16-all. A vital throw up in the Rlccarton circle was won by Rowberry and Berry scored. In the closing stages deflections from Martin gave Berry scoring opportunities. St Nicholas 34, Hagley 24

Hagley was strengthened by the inclusion of its New Zealand cap, Genae Katae, at goal-attack and with some attractive shooting Hagley took an early lead.

The centre, Chris Pletzner, used an underhand pass to feed Lyndsay Pugh. who -was also shooting well, and Hagley increased its lead to three.

The usually accurate Ann Davidson appeared unsettled against the defence of Dianne Petrie and at half-time Hagley looked poised for a good win. In the second half a tactical error was largely responsible for giving St Nicholas the edge. The keeper, Petrie, and the defence, Janice Henderson, set up a double block on Davidson. This left the attack, Judy Pani, on her own and the experienced player made the most of her unexpected freedom. If she missed the shot, Davidson got the rebound, giving St Nicholas the scoring opportunities it needed.

With the score at 20-all, Hagley was given another chance by fine shooting from Lyndsay Pugh. However, in the closing stages St Nicholas stepped up its pace, leaving Hagley no time to set up its defence. Technical A 41, Sacred Heart A 23 The Technical-Sacred Heart game has for many years been the highlight of senior netball but this match saw a big swing in Technical’s favour. Technical played strong, open netball and its' strong attacking line, Frances Granger, Robin Foster, and Ann Van Tangeren, was in good form. Van Tangeren is a wing-attack who is often overshadowed by Granger and Foster, but she contributed ereatlv to the team’s success. The defence, Sally Mene, Leigh Mills, and Phillinoa McLean, succeeded s n swinging play to the Sacred Heart goal circle, but the attack. Vicki Patterson, missed shot after shot and finally evaded shooting to pass to Penny Berry, playing her second game for the afternoon. She was called several times for held ball which she found disconcerting. Technical was strengthened by the return of the New Zealand vice-captain. Maxine Blomquist. It was a disappointing game for | Sacred Heart. Technical winning bv its biggest margin in years.