N.Z. netballers’ best performance so far

Press, 18 August 1979, Page 52

N.Z. netballers’ best performance so far

NZPA Port of Spain, (Trinidad) The New Zealand women’s netball team gave its best showing of the world tournament to date when it recovered from a slow start to beat Jamaica, 56-28, at Port of Spain, Trinidad, yesterday. New Zealand won the toss and gave Jamaica first pass, but was slow to get away and Jamaica took control to go to an early, 5-3, lead against the unbeaten Kiwis. However, New Zealand slowly whittled back the goals to end the first

quarter with a narrow, 119, advantage. The second quarter featured some strong passing by the New Zealand team of Margaret Kamana, Margaret Forsyth, Christine Pietzner, Lyn Parker, Maxine Blomquist, Yvonne Willering and Marilyn Munro, and the side’s strong defence took charge. Time and again the ball was snatched away from the Jamaicans and there were also many good interceptions, taking New Zealand to a strong, 27-14, lead at half-time. New Zealand had their . MI

best- quarter of the tournament immediately after half-time, in spite of the difficulty in concentrating with the crowd noise coming from the Trinidadian match on a nearby court. The quarter was highlighted by the outstanding combination work of the New Zealand girls who continually kept the pass in front of the Jamaican defence. By the .end of the quarter the Kiwis had the game firmly under control with a 45-20 lead. The New Zealanders slowed the pace in the final quarter against a

very tired Jamaican team, with Mrs Parker guiding her team well in their best performance of the tournament. Misses Willering, Munro and Blomquist backed each other ,up well, both on attack and defence, to get plenty of ball to the goal circle, where Wellington’s Miss Kamana was outstanding in the final stages, after an erratic start. Canterbury’s Mrs Pietzner was right back to her best form of old and was a strong steadying influence in mid-court.