Sacred Heart stays in league

Press, 10 July 1987, Page 32

Sacred Heart stays in league

By DIANNA LESLIE Sacred Heart retained its place in the prestigious Swiss Maid netball league yesterday, when it repulsed a spirited Olympic team, 62-45, at the Hagley courts.

In its final challengerelegation match, Sacred Heart showed, for perhaps the first time, what its side is capable of as a united combination.

Heart fought hard for early possession and opened the scoring, consciously serving notice to the SfPalmerston North side.

The early 19-8 lead at the end of the first quarter was invaluable to Heart in the latter stages of the match when Olympic settled into a more threatening mode. Olympic began the second quarter with a vengeance, but the firedup Sacred Heart side retaliated and soon curbed Olympic’s exuberant efforts. Julie Culhane, the Sacred Heart goal shoot, did full justice to her elevation from the Heart B side, moving ans turning with the ball superbly

to create all the room she needed to score confidently. Kathy Godsall, the Sacred Heart goal attack, adjusted to her new shooter with ease, and they enjoyed a tangible understanding throughout the match. Godsall was in fine fettle, successfully netting 79 per cent of her attempts to boost Heart’s tally. Olympic struggled to contain the Heart side, and looked in trouble at the break, trailing 21-38. The goal posts certainly seemed to favour the home side, as several re-

bellious balls flirted with Olympic’s goal ring, but stubbornly refused to complete their mission and materialise into points. Catherine Dailey, and Lynda de Ruyter, the Sacred Heart defences, worked fastidiously in the goal circle, and were, at times, impenetrable. In the third quarter, Olympic trimmed Heart’s advantage to 47-33 and the strong turn-out of Heart supporters tensed as Leander Ensing and Det&ie Reeves the Olympic shooters, found form

and dragged their team back into the game. But Leigh Gibbs, the Sacred Heart wing defence, covered the ball with electric determination, to create chances for Dailey and de Ruyter to take intrepid interceptions.

Jude Fawcett, Olympic’s goal keep, worked with tenacity throughout the match attempting to break Heart’s deadly attack line-up.

Sacred Heart overwhelmed Olympic, with its cohesive combination and deservedlj&won.