Canterbury-Auckland clash likely to decide winner

Press, 29 August 1980, Page 24

Canterbury-Auckland clash likely to decide winner

By

DAVID LEGGAT

The number of teams with a chance of taking titles is steadily being whittled down at the national netball championships at the Hagley Park courts.

In the first grade Auckland and Canterbury have moved clear of the previous co-leader, Rotorua, and their clash in the final round tomorrow afternoon seems certain to decide the grade winner.

Both teams have interesting matches today — Auckland will meet North Shore (whose win over Wellington yesterday lifted it into fourth equal spot) and Rotorua, while Canterbury will play Wellington and North Shore. There was a remarkable performance yesterday from the Auckland goal-shooter, Te Aroha Clarke. She scored 24 times from 26 attempts in Auckland’s win over Waikato and went even better against South Canterbury in the afternoon, notching 35 goals from 36 shots. Canterbury Country and Manawatu remain locked at the bottom of the points table and time is Tunning out for these teams, with relegation to the second grade next year being the penalty for the team which finishes last.

Hawke’s Bay held on to

its two-point lead at the top of the second grade points table while Thames Valley edged two points ahead of its previous joint leader, Po= verty Bay, in the third grade. Poverty Bay drew both its matches yesterday. There, was a rapid change of fortunes for some of the fourth grade teams. Six were co-leaders before yesterday’s matches — now only Ashburton and Wellington Minor remain with 100 per cent records.

The first grade leaders, Auckland ana Canterbury, had little difficulty disposing of Waikato and King Country respectively yesterday morning.

In its afternoon match, Canterbury was tested for the first time by the previously unbeaten Rotorua side.

Canterbury forced errors from the Rotorua players, its defence, Wai Taumaunu and Sandy Heffernan, enjoying a height advantage in the goal circle. Well timed jumps were a feature of their game. At 8-6 Rotorua had its chances but Canter-

bury lifted its performance and pulled away. The New Zealand representative, Leigh Mills, had a tremendous game at wing defence while her captain, Adrienne Prattley, was also impressive.

Freda Perfect, Rotorua’s go a 1-k ee per , unsettled Canterbury’s Ann Davidson with her long reach but Davidson showed an uncanny knack of retrieving any rebounds from missed shots. Auckland massacred South Canterbury. Ably led by its captain, Yvonne Willering, Auckland gave its southern opponents, a lesson in ball skills. Effortless shooting by Clarke, supported by Sue McKay always ensured Auckland of a big advantage.

Canterbury Country must be considered one of the unluckiest teams at the tournament. Playing beautiful netball, its crisp passing a joy to watch, Country still went down by one goal to South Canterbury. Three missed long shots in the final minutes proved costly for Country as Frances Granger made no

mistake at the other end for South Canterbury. In the afternoon Country led King Country, 20-15, but allowed the North Island side to peg that lead back and take control. Results and points:— First grade.—Canterbury 46, King Country 34; Rotorua 32, Otago 24; Auckland 39, Waikato 25; South Canterbury 31, Canterbury Country 30; North Shore 47, Manawatu 26; Wellington 40, Hutt Valley 22; Waikato 26, Otago 21; Canterbury 39, Rotorua 23; King Country 36, Canterbury Country 27; Hutt Valley 37. Manawatu 30; Auckland 59, South Canterbury 32; North Shore 39, Wellington 26. Points.—Canterbury 14, Auckland 14, Rotorua 12, North Shore 10, Wellington 10, South Canterbury 8, King Country 6, Otago 4, Waikato 4, Hutt Valley 2, Manawatu 0, Canterbury Country 0.

Second grade.—Waikato Sub? associations 48, Matamata 20; Auckland Sub-associations 36, Taranaki 25; Hawke’s Bay 33, Nelson 26; South Auckland 41, Western Auckland districts 16; Southland 28, South Waikato 21; Western Bay of Plenty 44, Wanganui 41; Matamata 27, Western Auckland districts 20; South Auckland 42, Auckland Sub-asso-ciations 31; Western Bay of Plenty 38, South Waikato 25; Southland 40, Wanganui 33; Hawke’s Bay 31, Waikato Subassociations 28; Taranaki 29, Nelson 29. Points.—Hawke’s Bay 14, Southland 12, Western Bay of Plenty 11, Auckland Sub-associations 10,

South Auckland 10. Waikato Subassociations 8, Nelson 6, Wanganui 6, South Waikato 4, Matamata 2, Taranaki 1, Western Auckland districts 0. Third grade.—Poverty Bay 38. West Coast 38; Northland 26, Marlborough 16; North Otago 33, Southland Country 24; Thames Valley 46. Horowhenua 26; Otago Country 27, Howick 27; Eastern Bay of Plenty 38, Temuka and districts 32; Thames Valley 37. Southland Country 28; West Coast 33. North Otago 31; Howick 30, Marlborough 30; Northland 22, Otago Country 18; Temuka and districts 29, Horowhenua 22; Poverty Bay 42, Eastern Bay of Plenty 42. Points.—Thames Valley 14, Poverty Bay 12. West Coast 11, Eastern Bay of Plenty 10. Southland Country 8. North Otago 7, Northland 6. Otago Country 6, Howick 4, Temuka and districts 3, Horowhenua 2. Marlborough 1. Fourth grade.—Wairoa 30. Nelson Mindr 20; Hawke’s Bay Minor 30, Manawatu Minor 19; Wairarapa 32. Hutt Valiev Minor 23; Wellington Minor 47, Hokitika 14; Ashburton 34, Te Kawau 27; South Canterbury Minor 47. Poverty Bay East Coast 27; Wellington Minor 47, Wairoa 17; Nelson Minor 28, Hokitika 22; Te Kawau 33, Poverty Bay East Coast 24; Hawke’s Bay Minor 34, South Canterbury Minor 28; Hutt Valley Minor 28, Manawatu Minor 25; Ashburton 44. Wairarapa 20. Points.—Ashburton 14. Wellington Minor 14, Hawke’s Bay Minor 13, W'airoa. 12, Wairarapa 12, South Canterbury Minor 12, Te Kawau 3. Hutt Valley Minor 2, Nelson Minor 2, Hokitika 0, Manawatu Minor 0. Poverty Bay East Coast 0.