Mixed results for Chch teams

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 26

Mixed results for Chch teams

Christchurch’s two representatives in the Swiss Maid national netball league picked up a win and a loss in matches against northern opposition at the Hagley courts on Saturday.

Sacred Heart had an excellent win, 66-56, over the defending champion, Laser Verdettes, of Hamilton. St Nicholas, in spite of a fine performance, went down to the strong Carmel Mainzeal team from North Shore,

57-53. Verdettes made a solid start and achieved a narrow advantage at the end of the first quarter. Sacred Heart, however, with Diana Houghton and Stephanie Stokes-Washing-ton working well in tandem on attack, did not allow that lead to get out of reach and at half-time trailed by just three points, 28-25.

A crucial tactical change, switching the player-coach, Leigh

Gibbs, to centre and Anna Richards moving to wing defence, made a significant improvement in Sacred Heart’s play to such a degree that it led, 44-37 with one quarter remaining. With the Verdettes goal shooters, Margaret Forsyth and Darlene Marsters, under pressure from Anne-Marie Shah and Lynda de Ruyter, Sacred Heart consolidated that lead and fully deserved its victory.

St Nicholas pressed Carmel, which is effectively the North Shore representative side, very hard and by half-time was trailing just one goal, 2726. The St Nicholas goal shooters, Ann Davidson and April leremia, had a testing assignment against Carmel’s tight defence, Gael Robinson and Denise Felix.

A disappointing third quarter probably cost St Nicholas the chance of a major upset. Mistakes

under pressure enabled Carmel to begin the fourth qquarter ahead, 42-36. It managed to close the gap to just two goals but could not quite catch the North Shore side.

In the other league match on Saturday, College Rifles, of Auckland, beat Pacific Island Church, of Wellington, 5346. It was College Rifles first win in the competition.