Outright win first in 65 years

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 24

Outright win first in 65 years

For the first time in 65 years the St Nicholas club has won the Christchurch premier grade netball championship outright It clinched the title on the rain-swept South Hagley courts on Saturday by comfortably beating the early form runner, Hagley A. St Nicholas A consequently won the Trusteebank Trophy by a point from Sacred Heart Old Giris A, with whom it shared top honours last season, and in 1981. Capping St Nicholas’s day of triumph was the club’s B team, which won the senior title and the Sue Morton Trophy in spite of losing by a point to South Brighton A in its final game. Final points were:— Premier

Hornby A made a bold showing in the first round, beating Sacred Heart and drawing with St Nicholas A.

But its drive gradually deserted it in the second round, and its thrashing by Sacred Heart was a prelude to a 4367 loss to St Nicholas on Saturday. The champion side was up by 18-9 after 15min and was comfortably clear by 35-19 at half-time. It drew further ahead in both the third and fourth quarters, with Ann Davidson at goal shoot matching her skill against the miserably wet, gusty conditions. Sacred Heart A encountered stem opposition from Riccarton A, which had two teenagers substituting for the regulars, Dian Nelis and Karen Donnell. Struggling at times against tight defence, Sacred Heart eventually won, 68-54.

Aided by the reappearance of Raelene Maxwell, at goal shoot, South Brighton finished better in the circle in the final stage to head off the early lead established by St Nicholas B. With the close marking adding to the miseries imposed by the weather, the game was low in scoring, South Brighton prevailing, 3029. in other matches on Saturday, Homby-Wycoia A beat Bumside A, 41-30, in an up-

set, and St Nicholas E completed the club’s trifecta by nudging ahead of Sacred Heart B, 59-56.

W L D Pt St Nicholas A 12 1 2 26 Sacred Heart A 12 2 1 25 Hagley 9 5 1 19 Riccarton 5 10 0 10 Burnside 2 12 1 5 Hornby 2 12 1 5 Senior W L D Pt St Nicholas B 12 3 0 24 Sacred Heart B 10 5 0 20 South Brighton 9 6 0 18 St Nicholas E 9 6 0 18 Technical 4 11 0 8 Cashmere 2 13 0 1