Fitting climax likely at netball championships

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 60

Fitting climax likely at netball championships

Canterbury and Auckland, the teams which have dominated New Zealand netball in recent years, look set to battle out what has become, effectively, the final of the first-grade section at the national championships at the Hagley Park courts today.

Both teams recorded two wins yesterday — Auckland comfortably beating North Shore and Rotorua, Canterbury narrowly edging out Wellington in the .morning but thrashing North Shore yesterday afternoon. This morning, Canterbury will meet South Canterbury, while Auckland will face "Wellington. Assuming both win, the championships will have a ready-made final. At the other end of the table, Canterbury Country finally got the win it richly deserved when it convincingly beat Otago. Promoted from the second could be enough to ensure that Manawatu, and not Canterbury Country, will be relegated next season. Two wins yesterday enabled Hawke’s Bay to increase to three its lead at the top of the second grade, while Thames Valley, after finishing runner-up in 1978 and 1979, looks certain to make it third time lucky in the third grade. Wellington Minor had an i important victory in the fourth grade over Ashburton. The two had been co-leaders, but provided the Wellington side can hold off what should be a strong challenge from South Canterbury Minor this afternoon, it will take the title. If it fails to beat Wellington Minor, the South Canterbury side could justifiably wonder what it has to' do to

win promotion, having been runner-up in the fourth grade every year since 1976. Canterbury lived • dangerously in its match with Wellington. The first half was notable for the tight defences of both sides.

Canterbury’s Leigh Mills, Wai Taumaunu, and Sandy Heffernan had sound games while their Wellington rivals, Liz Neilson, Pauline Knaggs, and Millie Munro can also be pleased with their efforts. The national representative, Margaret Kamana, of Wellington, delighted the big crowd with her long reach and skilful shooting, but in a tense finish Canterbury determinedly held on for the win. Auckland was a convincing winner over Rotorua. Its fluid court moves, the uncanny rapport between Te Aroha Clarke and Sue McKay; and the attacking and defensive ability of < the centre, Margaret Patillo, j were highlights of the ■ match. An injury to Canterbury ’ Country’s captain, Jo Hig- , ginson, could have proved ’ disastrous in its match i against Otago. However, the ’ versatile Donna Smith ; moved from goal shoot to centre, and Erin Harris took : over the shooting with admi- j rable results. The sisters, Annette Blomquist and Maxine Munro, were. excellent in

defence for Canterbury Country, giving Otago’s shooters few opportunities.

Canterbury gave its best performance in hammering North Shore, 58-20. It moved the ball swiftly and with great confidence. It forced errors from the North Shore players and regularly capitalised on them. The North Shore shooter, Cherie Fong, was strangely inaccurate, missing many shots and frequently being drawn out of the goal circle by the wily Canterbury defence.

Ann Davidson gave a polished shooting display for Canterbury, always keeping her side well ahead. Results and points: First grade.—-Waikato 32, Canterbury Country 23; Rotorua 45, South Canterbury 38; King Country 45, Hutt Valley 26; Auckland 39, North Shore 29; Canterbury 2G, Wellington 24; Otago 29, Manawatu 26; Auckland 59, Rotorua 36; Waikato 30, Hutt Valley 23; Wellington 46, South Canterbury 25; Canterbury Country 26, Otago 16; Canterbury 58, North Shore 20; King Country 31, Manawatu 14. Points.—Auckland and Canterbury 18, Rotorua 14, Wellington 12, North Shore and King Country 10, South Canterbury and Waikato 8, Otago 6, Hutt Valley and Canterbury Country 2, Manawatu 0.

Second grade.—South Waikato 31, Matamata 20; Taranaki 42, Western Auckland Districts 30; South Auckland 26, Southland 24; Western Bay of Plenty 34, Nelson 25; Auckland SubAssociations 40, Waikato SubAssociations 25; Hawke’s Bay 39, Wanganui 21; Western Bay of Plenty 41, Western Auckland Districts 21; Nelson 27, South Wai-

ikato 27; Hawke s Bay 32, Southland 24; South Auckland 34, Waikato Sub-Associations 27; Auckland Sub-Associations 35, Wanganui 29; Taranaki 39, Matamata 19.

Points.—Hawke’s Bay 18, Western Bay of Plenty ' 15, South Auckland and Auckland SubAssociations 14, Southland 12, Waikato Sub-Associations 8, South Waikato and Nelson 7, Wanganui 6, Taranaki 5, Matamata 2, Western Auckland Districts 0.

Third grade.—Eastern Bay of Plenty 30, Southland Country 24; North Otago 30, Horowhenua 22; Poverty Bay 41, Otago Country 25; West Coast 35, Howick 33; Thames Valley 41. Northland 21; Temuka and Districts 28, Marlborough 26; Horowhenua 41, Howick 21; Southland Country 22, Otago Country 20; West Coast 33, Marlborough 25; Thames Valley 41, Eastern Bay of Plenty 32; North Otago 33, Temuka and Districts 27; Poverty Bay 29, Northland 20.

Points. —Thames Valley 18, Poverty Bay 16, West Coast 15, Eastern Bav of Plenty and Southland Country 12, North Otago 11, Northland and Otago Country 6, Temuka and Districts 5, Horowhenua and Howick 4, Marlborough 1. Fourth grade.—Wellington Minor 33, Hawke’s Bay Minor 22; Hutt Valley Minor 33, Hokitika 18; Ashburton 35, Wairoa 16; Poverty Bay East Coast 23. Manawatu Minor 15; South Canterbury Minor 40, Wairarapa 20; Te Kawau 24, Nelson Minor 24; Hutt Valiev Minor 30. Poverty Bay East Coast 21; Wellington Minor- 37, Ashburton 21; Manawatu Minor 19, Nelson Minor 19; Hawke’s Bay Minor 30, Wairarapa 19; South Canterbury Minor 31, Wairoa 25; Te Kawau 26, Hokitika 15.

Points.—Wellington Minor 18, South Canterbury Minor and Ashburton 16, Hawke’s Bay Minor 15, Wairoa and Wairarapa 12, Te Kawau and Hutt Valley Minor 6. Nelson Minor 4, Poverty Bay East Coast 2, Manawatu Minor 1, Hokitika 0.