Big 15-year-old new to senior netball team

Press, 5 July 1978, Page 22

Big 15-year-old new to senior netball team

Wai Taumanu, a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Riccarton High School, is the only new representative in the 1978 Canterbury senior netball team for ' the national tournament. Wai (left) is from a family with an inherent love of sport. Here mother was an accomplished swimmer and tennis player and her father represented East Coast-Poverty Bay at rugby. Her 12-year-old brother. Kara, is already a top swimmer and recordholder in his age group. Two older brothers play rugby and rugby league. “My sister hasn’t had time to do anything yet — she’s only four,” says Wai. Although her family give her a lot of encouragement and support, they do not often get to see her play. “With four children to get to sport on Saturday morning, it’s pretty hectic,” she said. Wai Taumaunu’s rise to senior status has been astounding. She first began playing netball in form I for the Kowhai club and experienced her first taste of tournament netball at a Maori tournament at the age of 12. She represented Canterbury at primary school level while a pupil of

Avonhead. When the Kowhai club was disbanded, Wai joined Burnside in answer to an advertisement for new players. In 1976, it won the third grade competition and Wai won representative honours in the grade. She moved up to second grade the next season and her team failed by only five points to win the competition. That year, she was chosen as a Canterbury junior representative: traditionally that team grooms promising under-17 players for higher honours. At the beginning of the 1978 season, Wai was a member of the Burnside B team in the senior competition. She was promoted to the A team when Burnside met Technical because, as she modestly admits, “the A team needed added height in the goal defence circle.” One match was sufficient for her coach, Mrs Marie Snow, to realise that she had found a capable goal-keeper with height, safe hands and an innate sense of timing. "She is a delightful girl to coach,” says Mrs Snow. “She is never late to practice and is very enthusiastic. During the game she will sum up the situation and is quick to adapt her

play when necessary.” Although easily the youngest in this years Canterbury senior team. Wai never thinks "rm only 15.” But she confessed that at the first practice of the provincial team she did feel nervous on realising that six of the eight players had been New Zealand representatives. "Then,” said Wai "you start playing and just forget all about it.” The talented fifth fonn pupil at Riccarton High School does not concentrate on netball alone. She swims and plays basketball for her school’s A team, has played softball and played cricket for the first time last summer. Two years ago she was a member of the Canterbury under-13 water polo team. The highlight of the year for Wai will be the national netball tournament in Timaru when Canterbury will endeavour to regain the title. It will give her a great opportunity to play with and against top New Zealand players. And, because the tournament is so close to home, she will have the support of her family on the side-line cheering for Canterbury, and especially its promising young goalkeeper.