Netballers steeled for national league

Press, 4 April 1987, Page 88

Netballers steeled for national league

Demanding build-ups and tight selection have prepared the keen Canterbury Swiss Maid netball teams, St Nicholas and Sacred Heart, for the national club league which begins this weekend. Both teams have considerable talent, at provincial and national level. They also have very definite goals. St Nicholas improved its match play throughout last season and finished fourth of the eight teams in the Swiss Maid competition. It is confident of further success this season and determined to make the final. Conversely, Sacred Heart will be working hard to improve on its seventh place, and is aiming to finish in the top four. St Nicholas has an ex-

perienced side with only two new selections, Chris Palmer and Karen Burrows. Palmer was a former Auckland representative and is likely to fill either wing defence or centre, while Burrows had been with the club since the start of her netball and was playing well enough to make the A team, said Lynne McLennan, the St Nicholas captain. Annette Heffernan and Angela Pule, who have been selected for the New Zealand world championship team, will be strong on defence, although the versatile Pule can play most positions. Heffernan, in particular, is playing well after suffering injuries in past seasons. The attack features a strong shooting combination of Ann Davidson

(goal shoot) and April lererhia (goal attack) with their fellow Canterbury representatjxe, Rosalie Doyle, at- wing attack. McLennan will take the centre position. McLennan is confident that St Nicholas can beat Verdettes today. “We were overawed by them last year, but felt afterwards We could have beaten them,” she said. The College Rifles side has been strengthened this year with two Auckland representatives but McLennan is undaunted and looking forward , to achieving two wins this week-end. Sacred Heart has a dramatically changed side without the smooth shoot-, ing combination of, Stephanie Stokes-Washing-ton and Diana Houghton.

There were several newcomers, including Kathy. Gudsell and Sandra Wil-‘ kinson who are vying for the goal shoot spot. Adrianne Hayes has returned to Canterbury from Auckland and will play goal attack. Her experience at top league netball will give stability to the otherwise uninitiated league shooters. Margaret Bray and Catherine Dailey, also new to the league, will be in Sacred Heart’s defence line-up.

“Of course, our ultimate aim is to make the final — but realistically we want to' make the top four,” said the Sacred Heart captain, Leigh Gibbs. Gibbs is happy with the team and feels they are combining better than last season. Today. Sacred Heart meets College Rifles, followed by Verdettes on Sunday. All games will be at the Hagley courts.