Three from Canty in netball team

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 3

Three from Canty in netball team

Canterbury has contributed three players to the 10woman New Zealand netball squad to tour Britain in No November. The team was named on Saturday by the selector, Mrs Lois Muir. The Canterbury players included are centre Leigh Gibbs, wing defender Maxine Munro, and goal defender Waimarama Taumaunu. They are all previous national representatives. Canterbury had five players at the two-day trials in Hutt Valley. The two to miss selection were wing attack Lynne McLennan and goal attack Diana Sullivan. Geane Hohipuha, a Canterbury player who appeared for New Zealand in the third test against Australia earlier this year, did not take part in the trials and was not selected. The inclusions from Canterbury were not surprising,

according to the provincial coach. Cath Brown. "I thought the three that got in would get in and I thought the other two (trialists) would be lucky if they did,” said Miss Brown. The team contains several surprises, notably the sensational comeback of the ebullient Wellingtonian, Margaret Matenga. Matenga, aged 26, gave birth to a daughter on July

23 and had played only one club game since, before the trials. During the trials it was evident Matenga was short of match fitness, but Mrs Muir- was obviously swayed by the Wellingto-. nian’s fine form for New Zealand in recent years. As weLl as Matenga, who has been a New Zealand representative. since 1978, Mrs Muir included three other goal shooters in her side. Margaret Forsyth, as expected, got the nod, but the

back-up pair of Rhonda Meads (Waikato) and Rita Fatialofa (Auckland), are major shocks. The inclusion of Meads, aged 20, and 1.9 m tall, gives New Zealand height to counter defences. Fatialofa, aged 19, a member of the world champion New Zealand softball team, has earned inclusion through her versatility. The same 21 trialists are to reassemble in Palmerston North next March, when the team to contest next June’s world championships in Singapore will be chosen. Mrs Muir stressed things could be vastly different when the team for Singapore was chosen. The team is.: Gibbs, Munro, •Taumaunu (Canterbury), Tracey Fear, Lyn Parker (captain), Rhonda Meads, Margaret Forsyth (ail Waikato), Yvonne .Willering (vice-cap-tain), Fatialofa (Auckland), Matenga (Wellington).