Netball Most seniors slow and lack fitness

Press, 14 April 1980, Page 19

Netball Most seniors slow and lack fitness

Apart from a fast and open game between St Nicholas A and Sacred Heart A, the opening round of the Canterbury senior netball competition provided disappointing performances on Saturday. While St Nicholas and Sacfed Heart appeared to be in a class of their own, the other senior teams lacked fitness, imagination and generally played slow, loose netball. Contact abounded, usually a sigh that players are not fit. Wet conditions made handling difficult and compounded the problems. The only unexpected result was Sacred Heart B’s victory over Teachers’ College. Other wins went to Technical A ', Sacred Heart A, Burnside A and Hagley. Technical A 32, Burnside B 19 ■ The opening match in the senior netball competition was disappointing. Both teams showed a marked lack of fitness. Play was scrappy with few constructive moves through the court. Loose passes from Burnside were snapped up bv the new wing defence. Eva Walker. Her high takes were one of the better features of the match and she provided good support

for the goal keeper, Lyn Caughley. At half-time Technical had a 12-point lead, due mainly to the superiority of its goal shooter, Gail Luxton. and attack, Judy Roberts. Nevertheless, play was too slow in the circle jnd a stronger team than Burnside would have had little trouble intercepting passes. Play failed to lift in the second half and a heavy ball slowed play further. For Burnside the goal attack, Cecilia Burke, looked to be the most skilful. She has a good eye and shot well with the little possession given. Hazel Brown, the goal defence, made a welcome return from overseas, but both she and Burke are used to stronger support. Technical built on its half-time score and, with some accurate shots from Luxton, emerged the winner bv 13 goals. Hagley 27, Cashmere 19

Hagley and Cashmere were slow to settle, too. but this game looked more like senior netball. Both teams moved the ball well and constructive moves resulted in goals. Hagley missed the

penetrating plav of its former captain. Chris Pietzner, but it still has many • fine players. Cashmere's goal shooter, Lyhley Neutze, and attack. Linda Shepherd, did very well against the formidable opposition provided by the Hagley defence. Cashmere made the Hagley forward end work for every shot. Nothing was given away and the international player, Genae Kotae, had to use all her expertise to score. At half-time, Hagley had inched ahead, 10-9. Cashmere opened strongly to peg the score back to 13-11. Hagley countered, and with some spectacular mid-court interceptions from Kotae, play swung Hagley’s way. Some fine shooting and effective rebounding by Mary-Ann Selby pushed Hagley further ahead. Cashmere, under pressure in its goal circle, began to pass the ball around instead of taking the shot, losing many shooting opoortunities. Shepherd could well have taken control at this A 32, Riccarton 23 Riccarton went into an . early lead against Burnside A. It settled quickly at both defence

and forward ends. The combination of Bridget Hishon (shooter) and Diana Nellis, in the goal attack position, looked to have potential. For a first match they showed a fine understanding. Even the defence of the wily Wai Toumaunu failed to hassle them. For most of the second half Riccarton maintained its twogoal advantage, established in the first five minutes of play. The wing defence for Riccarton worked hard to keep Adrienne Prattley out of the goal circle, allowing time for two defence to drop back on the main shooter, Jan Pickering. These tactics paid dividends. The defender, Taumaunu (Burnside), began picking up interceptions and upsetting Hishon’s concentration. She missed her goals and Taumaunu got the rebounds. Prattley took control of the shooting and Burnside went ahead to win comfortably. Sacred Heart B 26, Teachers' College 21

Play was even throughout the first half, except that the College forwards were given greater possession in the goal circle. It

failed to capitalise and it’s missed shots gave Sacred Heart the chance to keep level. Cathy Moriaty, having her first senior game, shows promise, but played more like a goal attack than goal shooter. Dogged by injury, College had had to rearrange its forward line and combinations suffered as a result. At half-time Sacred Heart B held a slender one-point lead. The second half was dominated by Sacred Heart, with the shooter. Colleen Taurlma, netting every shot. College’s play was too slow and hesitations allowed Sacred Heart the timing it needed and it went further ahead. College fought back, particularly its defence. Brenda Jones, having her debut in senior netball, looked promising and combined effectively with Jane Eddington. However, its run was too late.

Sacred Heart A 33, St Nicholas A 31

The highlight of the day’s play was undoubtedly the match between last season’s co-champion and St Nicholas. It was a pity that this game was not given two umpires. For an early season

game it was played at a fast pace. Play see-sawed end-to-eud, each team looking for the break. Two crucial shots missed by St Nicholas gave Sacred Heart the edge and it led by one at half-time. The Sacred Heart forwards, Wendy Heta and Diana Sullivan, have a strong partnership in the circle. Their rapport allowed them to breach the St Nicholas defence until Barbara Kreft and Sandy Sanson began to get their measure in the second half.

For St Nicholas the wing attack, Rosalie Doyle, having her first season in senior netball, showed remarkable elevation. Capable of outjumping taller opponents, she provided good support to Kreft and Sansom. Sacred Heart tightened Its defence and got ahead, due mainly to St Nicholas’s lapses in concentration. Play deteriorated, probably because of tiredness. Ann Davidson lost possession at a vital time. Three or four times the ball slipped out of her hands.