Netball defenders prominent

Press, 27 February 1989, Page 26

Netball defenders prominent

There may be a new broom heading the national netball team, in the presence of the former captain, Lyn Parker, but there is little prospect that there will be any sweeping changes to the methods of the 1989 netball team which was chosen in Christchurch on Saturday. Even with Mrs Parker taking over from the long-time coach, Lois Muir, for a series against Australia and later in the World Cup, she has no intention of making sweeping changes and has Mrs Muir as a co-selector. The result is a team about which she is happy, because of its over-all strength. But, she admits to having loaded the defence a little, because of changes enforced by retirements. She feels the

need to do this while the defensive end of the court is re-established. Of the 12 players in the team, there are at least five who can be used in defensive positions, including the new captain, the former Canterbury player, Waimarama Taumaunu, who now plays for Wellington. Mrs Parker describes selecting the team as the two most difficult days of her sporting life. But there have beeen few surprises in the choice, suggesting a "steady as she goes” approach. One feature of the team is the choice of the 17-year-old Waikato schoolgirl, Louisa Wall, who is capable of playing at goal attack, centre, or wing defence. She graduates to the full national team from

the Young International team. Another newcomer moving up from the Younger Internationals is Robin Dillimore. She is a 20-year-old goalkeeper from Wellington. The team includes two Canterbury players, Annette Heffernan, who plays in the defence and April leremia who plays at the attacking end of the court. Mrs Parker said the trial was strong. In developing the team, she will be looking to work up the new pairings and combinations. Waimarama Taumaunu, as new captain, considers it to be a real challenge in a new era for New Zealand netball with some young players. She believes that Mrs Parker, whom she describes as "her own person” will not make

fundamental changes to the Muir style, but “there will be surface changes.” The team meets Australia in a three-match test series on April 26 and 29 and May 3. From July 24-29 the team will defend its world title in the World Cup tournament at Karlaruhe in West Germany. The team is:— Sharon Burridge (Otago), Julie Carter (Waikato), Robin Dillimore (Waikato), Tracy Eyrl (North Shore), Rita Fatialofa (Auckland), Annette Heffernan (Canterbury), April leremia (Canterbury), Sandra Mallet (Waikato), vice captain. Ana Noovao (Auckland), Waimarama Taumaunu (Wellington), captain, Julie Townsend (Auckland), Louisa Wall (South Waikato).