S. Brighton proves a giant-killer

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 23

S. Brighton proves a giant-killer

South Brighton, as it has promised all season, proved the giant-killer in the Canterbury Sports Depot senior netball competition at Hagley Courts on Saturday by heating Burnside. _ Burnside, the joint competition leader, could not match a South Brighton side fired up to win. The composure and accuracy of South Brighton was just too great The side’s goal attack, Geane Hohipuha, was a deserving winner of the Canterbury Sports Depot player of the day award. St Nicholas continued its unbeaten record with a victory over Sacred Heart B by 33 goals to 21. Sacred Heart A retained its unbeaten record also with a 48-18 win over Hagley. Teachers A notched up its first win, 26-10, at the expense of the club’s B side. Ricearton proved too strong for Technical, taking a 39-19 win. South Brighton 32 v. Burnside 28 South Brighton pressed the joint competition leaders hard leading for part of the first half. Burnside stayed in front until six goals all, when South Brighton scored two quick goals to take the lead. Superior shooting by South Brighton’s Raylene Maxwell and Geane Hohipuha gave the side the advantage. Burnside’s shooters were uncertain. The team opted for another new goal shooter, Cathy Elliston, who had difficulty finding the net. Wai Taumaunu was given much of the shooting responsibility. South Brighton led by two goals, 15-13, at the break and Bumside fielded a changed combination in the second half. Pip Bakermans came on at goal keep, Nicky Lay moved out to goal defence, Carey Patton to wing defence and Diane Brown went off. Bumside looked unsettled by the pressure of its first close match. South Brighton, by comparison, remained collected and increased its lead to five. Elliston and Taumaunu formed an uneasy combination in the circle for Bumside, with Taumaunu’s speed catching Elliston out Hohipuha and Maxwell, on the other hand, passed confidently in the circle to find the best shooting position. The Burnside effort brought the side back to within three goals but South Brighton had too much composure and accuracy. Geane Hohipuha had an excellent match and South Brighton would not have won without her. Rachel Bradley, the diminutive centre, also had an excellent match. The South Brighton team were deserving winners, finally realising the potential it has promised all season. The absence of Jan Pickering, the Burnside shooter, may have made it easier for South Brighton but that took nothing away from South Brighton. Teachers A 26 v. Teachers B 10 In a low-scoring and uninspiring match the College A side was too strong for the B team. Robyn Davenport, Chris Griffiths, and Nicky Hudson were the dominant players in the game as the Teachers’ A defence. There was little the B shooters could do to counter their control. The B side managed only three goals in the first half and seven in the second. The A side fielded its firststring combination for only the second time this season. The shooters* percentage was not the best (about 33 per cent in the first half) but the side made the possession it gained

work for it The College A side has some good players, some of whom have played in the senior grade for at least two years, but does not seem able to get together a smooth, flowing combination. Changes in players do not help. The usual fierce rivalry of a match between the A and B sides of the same dub gave the game some edge but the many unforced errors from both sides marred play. The most even dual was probably that between the centres Melanie L’Eef and Susan Shaw. Teachers A ran out the winners by 26 to 10 after leading, 10-3, at half-time. St Nicholas 33 v. Sacred Heart B 21 Sacred Heart B had a rearranged combination caused by injury to the centre Katie Love. Ann Bowen moved to centre, Kath Day to. wing defence and experienced goal shooter, Eileen Honey, came on at wing attack. The side gave a solid team effort to be only two goals behind at the break, 14-12. St Nicholas had an unsettled first half with some loose passes and its combination looked ragged. Moments after the second half began there was a long injury stoppage when Barbara Kreft’s head and Colleen Taurima’s leg came in contact Taurima came off worst The match continued goal for goal in the early part of the second half. Lynne McLennan had less opportunity than usual to stamp her mark on the game. Credit must go to Bowen for a determined game. The Sacred Heart effort slackened to allow St Nicholas to put a comfortable margin between the sides. In the latter part of the game Ann Davidson and April leremia, for St Nicholas, were able to shoot almost at will. The score jumped from 19-16 to St Nicholas to 29-18. St Nicholas eventually had a convincing win of 33 goals to 21. Ricearton 39 v. Technical 19 This promised to be a close match out Ricearton proved much too strong. The side ran away to a 20 goal to 8 lead at the interval. Diane Nelis led the way for Ricearton, shooting a good percentage of goals. She played at goal attack as Sue Bradshaw was absent Eva Poi’s return brought experience to the struggling Technical side. Changes at half-time and, because of injury, during the second half, meant she moved from goal defence, to centre (briefly) and to goal attack. It was testimony to her skill that she was able, to adjust as she did. The rest of the Technical side played determinedly but could not foot it with Riccarton in court play. Ricearton drew further ahead during the second half and were convincing winners at 39 goals to 19. Sacred Heart A 48 v. Hagley 18 Hagley seemed over-awed by its opposition and made several sfily mistakes. One of the side’s players to play with determination was Yvonne Rooney, from the Hagley B side, filling in for Jan Edlin at goal keep. Sacred Heart found its combination quickly and seemed to just “play*’ with its opposition. Karen Erickson, at wing defence, had a bustling game stealing possession several times. Leigh Gibbs again captained capably from the centre court. Diana Sullivan and Stephanie Stokes were patchy with their shooting but gave Sacred Heart a 24 goal to 10 lead at the interval. Bagley’s second half effort

could do nothing to lessen the half-time deficit Sharon Young and Maryann Selby, the shooters, had trouble countering the tight Sacred Heart defence. Sacred Heart extended its half-time lead with little trouble — to 48 goals to 18 at the final whistle. Although the match seemed tame after the Burnside-South Brighton cliff-hanger, both sides gave a full 40 minutes display. Results: Teachers A 26, Teachers B 10; St Nicholas 33, Sacred Heart B 21; Bumside 32, South Brighton 28; Riccarton 39, Technical 19; Sacred Heart A 48, Hagley 18. Points: St Nicholas, Sacred Heart A 12; Burnside 10; Riccarton, South Brighton 8; Hagley, Sacred Heart B 4; Teachers A 2; Technical, Teachers B 0. Results, , Senior Reserve: South Brighton 37, Bumside C 21; St Nicholas 43, Sacred Heart College 22; St Nicholas E 28, Sacred Heart 18; Bumside B 30, Cashmere 23. The Canterbury B netball side was named on Saturday. The team is Ann Davidson, Averil Amyes, Barbara Kreft (St Nicholas), Diane Nelis (Riccarton), Rachel Bradley, Geane Hohipuha (South Brighton), Vivienne Ritchie, Karen Erickson (Sacred Heart), Nicky Lay (Bumside). The team will play in the. South Island Squared Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.