N.Z. selects four new caps

Press, 7 March 1988, Page 30

N.Z. selects four new caps

By

JANE HUNT

of NZPA in Wellington

i New Zealand netball began a qew era when coach Lois Muir named four new caps in the national side to contest the Milo series against Trinidad in May and a tour to England in November.

j With thoughts of the . 1991 world tournament in I the| back of her mind Muir included the highly talented but untried youngsters Sharon Burridge (Otago), April Irejmia (Canterbury), Ana Noovao (Auckland) and Cathrine Wilkinson (Waikato) in the 12-strbng teaim. Burridge, a 1.87 m specialist goalkeeper attending her first New Zealand trial, was the surprise announcement while the other three, all versatile centre-court players, were well in contention at the encl of two days intensive trials. ‘‘This was my first trial and I just wanted to play my best,” said Burridge.

“I’m really pleased." For the others, who had often spent long hours training alone during summer, all the hard work was rewarded. “It was a nice bonus at the end of all that training,” said Wilkinson. "It makes it worth while but I didn’t come here expecting to get in, just to play to the best of my ability,” she said. Canterbury’s Angela Pule was the only member of last year’s world championship winning team not to retain her place, losing to the versatile Julie Carter (Waikato), a member of the 1986 New Zealand triseries team. Muir was pleased with

th? over-all performance at the trials and although confessing to a lot of work ahead of her, she is obviously relishing the prospect of rebuilding the team.

i tine area of concern appears to be the shooting 'department where Muir has selected only one specialist, the incumbent ;New Zealand team memib?r, Tracy Earl. I The unavailability of Margaret Forsyth this year has left the goal attack position vacant and Muir will not find replacing her an easy task. | Rita Fatialofa, Carter, Iremia and Wilkinson all have the ability to play in the position but none cbuld be called a special-

The long-standing defence pairing of Tracey Fear and Waimarama Taumaunu were named captain and i vice-captain. The full New Zealand team for the Milo series in May and the tour to England in i November is: Tracey Fear (Waikato, captain), i Waimarama Taumaunu ; (Wellington, vice-captain), Sharon Burridge (Otago), Julie Carter (Waikato), Tracy i Earl (North Shore), Rita Fatialofa (Auckland), April Iremia (Canterbury), Sandra Mallett (Waikato), Ana Noovao (Auckland), Joan Solia (Auckland), Julie Townsend (Auckland), Cathrine Wilkinson (Waikato), i