Crucial netball clash today

Press, 29 August 1986, Page 38

Crucial netball clash today

PA Auckland Canterbury and North Shore, which drew 57-57 earlier in the season, clash today in the national netball championships. The teams, which both lost on the first day, are tied for second place behind unbeaten Auckland in the Trustee Bank tournament. While Shore missed its chance of beating Auckland earlier in the week, Canterbury can savour the possibility of a showdown with the host team tomorrow afternoon. Canterbury’s coach, Kay O’Reilly, agrees that today’s match will be crucial. “We will certainly have our work cut out," she said. “They (North Shore) are a well disciplined team and will be

hard to break.” North Shore’s coach, Vicki Hearfield, said she was looking for another solid performance from her team. “I’ve always believed in netball that you have got to get a unit going,” she said. “It’s all very well having the top New Zealand players, but they can only play as well as the unit around them.” With that observation, Ms Hearfield has probably summed up why Waikato and the defending champion, Wellington, have not been as successful as expected. Canterbury and North Shore stayed in touch with Auckland yesterday with wins over Wellington and Waikato, respectively. The South Island team, lacking in stars,

triumphed, 63-55, with a steady performance. Good positional play and accurate shooting from Stephanie StokesWashington was complemented by some scurrying attack moves by the goal-attack, Diana Houghton. For Wellington, Rita Fatialofa brought some flair with her move to goal attack. She and Margharet Matenga demonstrated their great rapport in the circle. Canterbury led by only two goals at half-time, but Wellington’s efforts were marred by errors. A shuffled Waikato combination bowed, 3348, to North Shore in heavy rain. Waikato could not match the drive of Shore nor could it seize shooting opportunities.

Auckland, despite an uncertain start, beat Manawatu, 41-26. In division B Wellington Subs made South Waikato work for its win, finally succumbing, 46-49. South Waikato and Thames Valley remain locked in second place while Otago retained its one-point lead with a win over Rotorua. South Canterbury extended its second grade lead to four points, but had to stave off a 35-33 challenge from Hutt Valley. Results.— First grade Division A: Canterbury 64, Wellington 55; North Shore 48, Waikato 33; Auckland 41, Manawatu 26. Points: Auckland 6, Canterbury 4, North Shore 4, Wellington 2, Waikato 2, Manawatu 0. Division B: South Waikato

49, Wellington Subs 46; Otago 53, Rotorua 46; Thames Valley to, Southland 56. Points: Otago 6, South Waikato 5, Thames Valley 5, Wellington Subs 2, Rotorua 0, Southland 0. Second grade Round six: Canterbury Country 35, Waikato Subs 34; Counties 30, Northland 28; Taranaki 35, Wanganui 31; Auckland Subs 33, Hawkes Bay 25; South Canterbury 35, Hutt Valley 33; Nelson 20, Western 8.0. P. 20. Round seven: Hawke’s Bay 42, Northland 38; Counties 32, Auckland Subs 32; Canter- - bury Country 38, Nelson 33; Hutt Valley 25, Waikato Subs 20; South Canterbury 49, Wanganui 40; Taranaki 33, Western 8.0. P. 28. Points: South Canterbury 14, Wanganui 10, Taranaki. 16, Counties 9, Nelson 8, Auckland Subs 8, Canterbury Country 8, Hawkes Bay 6, Hutt Valley 6, Waikato Subs 2, Northland 2, Western 8.0. P. 1.