St Nicholas strongly favoured

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 32

St Nicholas strongly favoured

DIANNA LESLIE

By

St Nicholas is a firm favourite to beat Sacred Heart — it’s fellow Canterbury team r- in their Swiss Maid netball league clash tomorrow morning at the Hagley courts. St Nicholas, in the middle of the league table on 8 points, is in a position to threaten the points leaders, as it showed when it beat the competition leader, Car-

mel, 58-55, last week-end. Sacred Heart is languishing on two points and is trying to avoid playing ■ relegation matches later this season. The entire St Nicholas team represented Canterbury last season, with the exception of Chris Palmer, the only new addition to the team. Its two New: Zealand representatives, Angela Pule and Annette Heffer-

nan, at goal-defence and - goal-keep respectively, i enjoy superb understandI ing in the goal circle to i consistently break the ; opposition’s attack play. The St Nicholas attack i combination has played • together for three coni secutive seasons, and i move the ball with ' practised ease. “We are quietly confiI dent for Saturday,” said i Mrs Pat Carrick, the St ■ Nicholas coach.

Sacred Heart, a younger team, had a shaky start this season, but after it changed its attack combination last week-end experienced satisfaction with considerably improved play. Leigh Gibbs, the New Zealand captain, and Linda de Ruyter, are the most experienced team members, although Adrianne Hayes has returned to Sacred Heart after playing in the North

Island. Sacred Heart’s young shooters are competing against the extensive experience of the St Nicholas combination, but are turning in steady performances, according to Mrs Kay O’Reilly, the Sacred Heart coach. Mrs O’Reilly sees this week-end’s match as a “pressure game.” “St Nicholas just has to win to get out of the bottom section,” she said.