Sacred Heart wins title

Press, 11 August 1980, Page 20

Sacred Heart wins title

Sacred Heart A. the most consistent team during the season, won the senior netball competition yesterday when it beat Burnside A, 41-30, in the final round.

Teams did not play up to their usual standard and it was a disappointing day for spectators. Technical lost to an improving South Brighton but apart from that one loss played steady netball to win section 11. Riccarton B won the senior C grade. St Nicholas 37, Sacred Heart B 17

St Nicholas started slowly. The score was hot a true indication of the possession. The St Nicholas shooter. Ann Davidson, hardly missed a shot while the shooter for Sacred Heart. B, Colleen Taurima, had .an off day. Once St .Nicholas settled it was soon ahead arid never at any stage looked aS If it would be beaten.. Sacred Heart was further weakened when its wing attack. Helen Meates. was injured. ■ /', The St Nicholas defence covered nicely and marked closely and gave little away. Stembridge and Grice, when they did bring the ball down, found it extremely difficult to penetrate the tight circle guarding. Technical A 29, Burnside B 20 '

A slow-scoring first half typified play in the TechnlcalBurnsidc B match. Sandy Fawcett had a great game in the vital centre slot even to the extent of intercepting Burnside’s centre throw-off. Gail Luxton, the Technical shooter, was given ample possession from which she took Technical to a handv lead.

Effective rebounding by the Burnside keener. Wendv Burrows, helped to peg back Tech-

nlcal’s scoring rate, and for most of the second half only six goals separated the teams. Margaret Hewinson, the goal defence, ably backed up Burrows in the circle and took useful mid-court interceptions. Sue Morton, back in her old position as the Technical goal-keeper, showed she was as steadfast as ever.

Louise Richardson, using her height to good advantage, gave little latitude to Burnside’s main strength attack. Cecilia Burke. Hagley 27, Riccarton 22 Hagley took an early lead with three quick shots while Riccarton took time to settle. But once it applied pressure through the court Hagley was forced into passing errors. The defence at both ends worked hard. Vicki Glendennlng for Hagley had a particularly good game on the wing. She came forward to meet the ball taking nicely judged interceptions. ......

Kotae still showed the effects of Her recent knee injury and could not reach for the vertical take with her usual'aplomb. • Goals came slowly in the second half. Diona Nellis for Riccarton ; and Kotae for Haglev netting useful long shots. Teachers'. College 23, Cashmere 22 -

Teachers’ College attacked from the outset in what Was a vital game. Should it have lost it faced demotion. The Teachers felt their resnonslbility keenly and strove valiantlv.

Accurate shooting bv Leigh Bartlett gave College, the edge. But six goals up College went into a bad . patch making costly errors that gave Cashmere scoring opportunities, and College *'>’ pegged back to a four goal lead.

In a tense tussle both teams missed vital shots and up to tne last minute the result was in doubt.

South Brighton 24, St Nicholas B 13 South Brighton raced to an 8-0 lead before' St Nicholas B could score. A quarter of the game was over when the goal shooter, Pat Carrick, shot tno first goal for St Nicholas. Donna Plato, goal attack for South Brighton, is probably the most underrated member of the South Brighton team. Improving with each game she is always positioned where needed, making the feeders’ job an easy one. Angela Pule, shooting well and ably supported by Plato, meant South Brighton was ahead by nine points at half-time. The second half brought some fine defensive play from the goalkeeper, Raeleen Maywell, Verna .Claridge, pushed the St Nicholas shooters,

Sacred Heart A 41,Burnside A 30 Burnside A and Sacred Heart played the final game Of the 1980 competition. It was . expected to be a close tussle but witn Sacred Heart having an edge. Sacred Heart held a commanding seven-goal lead at half-time. It built on this score to go even further ahead in the second half. Nothing Burnside could do was able to break down the wan of resistance that it met on attack. Neither could it counter the wily moves and courtcrait displayed by the red team. Final points were:— : Section I: Sacred Heart A 10. St Nicholas 8. Bumside A and Hagley and Riccarton 4. Sacred Heart RO. Section II: Technical 8. Cashmere. South Brighton, and Teachers’ College 6. Nicholas B 4, Burnside B 0.