Untitled

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 72

Julie Carter, of Otago, and a member of the New Zealand under 21 netball team attempts to stop her partner taking a rebound at practice yesterday. The goal shoot is a Canterbury player, Stephanie Stokes. A full four quarters of netball is what the coach, Marian Smith, wants from the New Zealand side in today’s test against Australia, at Cowles Stadium. In the last two tests New Zealand tired in the third

and fourth quarters to let the Australians run up convincing wins. It was a matter of fitness, Miss Smith said yesterday. “They (the New Zealanders) are getting better. In the first test they held for the first two quarters. In the second at Dunedin it was only in the last quarter that they slipped. What I want tomorrow is a full hour effort.” The Australians had the advantage of superior fitness and were used to play-

ing games of four quarters, Miss Smith said. “There are several players who have international experience and have been playing netball almost day in and day out at the Institute of Sport. They have much more experience than our girls.” All matches in Australia were played as four quarter games, whereas four quarters was the exception in New Zealand, she said. The New Zealand side had the skill and talent to

match the Australians, Miss Smith said. One of the side’s goal shooters, Tracy Eyrl, from North Shore, had been having problems with shin splints but would probably play, she said. More use might be made of substitution to bring fresh players on later in the game. “We used it in Dunedin. The Australians have not used it at all. I certainly will be keeping it in mind tomorrow.”