Canterbury again the champion

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 20

Canterbury again the champion

Canterbury won the New Zealand Netball Cup for the third successive year when it beat Auckland, 31-28, in the final round of the national championship at Hagley Courts on Saturday. Wellington almost pulled off a big upset in its morning game against the favoured Auckland team. Playing a tight defence and wife its star shooter, Margaret Komana, being spurred, to even greater heights by her team mates call of “up Margie,” Wellington led until the final minute. Auckland remained cool under pressure and played the ball skilfully round its goal circle until the gap opened. One wild pass from Wellington’s Mary Compton, an injury to Kamana ■' and Auckland snatched a lastminute win, 34-33. Canterbury, too, had some anxious moments in the morning round. South Canterbury led its traditional rival, 6-1 and with Frances Granger shooting magnificently it was 15 minutes into the first half before Canterbury equalised. The second half was dominated by Canterbury which went on to win by 12 goals.

H Thus the stage was set forj j'a n Auckland-Canterburj' il final. Played in beautifully i sunny weather the pace was ; on from the outset. A spect tacular interception from goal defence, Yvonne Will I ering, broke Canterbury’s at- - tack and Auckland was - ahead, 2-0. i However, Canterbury’s ; goal defence, Wai Tau- - maunu, countered with an i equally brilliant interception. i Tight defence and close ’ marking right through the, > court forced Auckland into held balls and some loose 1 passes. 1 Auckland placed two > defences on Canterbury’s > shooting machine, Ann Dat vidson in an effort to curtail , her. 1 Of Canterbury’s first nine • goals, Adrianne Prattley scored three and Davidson s At the other end the i Auckland forwards had to - work extremely hard to peni etrate the close Canterbury ; defence. The goal shooter, 5 Te Aroha Clarke, risked • passes in her efforts to get closer to the goal post. This gave Taumaunu and the goal keeper, Sandra Heffernon, the opportunity to

;take the interception which to the delight of the home crowd they did. Canterbury’s scoring rate slowed because of Prattley’s reluctance to shoot when she had possession, but despite this, Canterbury held a useful five goal lead at halftime. The low score of 16-11 reflects the strong defence of both teams. Auckland was slow to settle in the first minutes of the second half and Canterbury, quicker to the loose ball and fleeter of foot, spun 'the ball through the court for Davidson to net. At 24-< 12 Canterbury looked set for a convincing win. But Auckland came back into the game, with the “floating” Willering being particularly troublesome. The agile centre, Margaret Patillo, was also a threat. Auckland was quick to capitalise when Canterbury players broke the line and lost possession, scoring six goals with a fine display of shooting. But Canterbury’s defence trio — Taumaunu, Heffernon and Leigh Mills — doubled its efforts and the side was able to stay ahead until the finish.