New netball coach aims high

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 26

New netball coach aims high

Noeline Ward, coach of the St Nicholas netball team, considers herself an unknown quantity to Canterbury netball in terms of coaching — a mystique which will soon be revealed. Mrs Ward is about to make her debut as a Bendon League coach, but she is thankful for the buffer that her obscurity offers.

“It takes the pressure off me as a person a bit. But I’m not there for myself, I’m there for netball and for Canterbury,” she said.

The St Nicholas line-up is fresh and exciting this year and Mrs Ward has clear objectives. “First of all they have got to enjoy it and then they will give it that much more. Then comes the results. I am very conscious of everyone enjoying themselves. They must plan to have a good time and not just to do it for the sake of it.” Mrs Ward has backed up her comments with a slightly off-beat selection of eight players — leaving her just one player on the bench.

"I feel that if the girls are not on the court then they get quite down, and rather than thinking that they can watch and learn, they start to take it personally.”

“I can call on our manager Barbara Kreft if I need to and I have a good rapport with the B team coach and will use those players if I need to. I feel that it is better for the B team girls to get the playing time this year because it could make all the difference to their game.”

Mrs Ward may claim

anonymity, but she is well recognised for her work and success with the province’s junior representative teams and has been on the executive for the Canterbury Association.

She has also had several seasons with St Nicholas and before that Technical. She is satisfied that she has the staff to improve on last year’s second-to-last placing. “I am adamant that we have a better team. There are several young players who are very keen. They haven’t been there before and they are always enthusiastic.”

The team is: Julie Culhane, April leremia, Anne Culhane, Mary Setu, Bev Gordon, Jane Diedrichs, Annette Heffernan, Karen Burrows. Gordon will be a new face to Canterbury as she has been playing in Otago. She was the . captain of that team for four years. “She’s older but so bubbly and she is very steadying in mid-court. She’s been there and done it before and is a very heady player,” said Mrs Ward.

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“I didn’t really know her before, but she has been very supportive and positive.”

The side is blessed with two New Zealand players in April leremia and Annette Heffernan. leremia, the twinkle-toed goal attack, is well complemented at the other end of the court by the long striding Heffernan. “April has been especially supportive. It is more difficult for Annette because she lives on a farm and can’t come waltzing down to the court every day.”

Heffernan will not be assisted on defence by Angela Pule, a former New Zealand representative with tremendous unrealised potential. Pule has given netball away this year. Kerri-Ann Cutbush and Barbara Lane are also qot in the line-up. Lynne McLennah, a stalwart centrecourt player for St Nicholas and long time Canterbury player, is also not playing this season.

Heffernan will in fact, be carrying considerable responsibility as the most experienced defence player and will be a pivotal force to rally and coordinate the new faces around her. Jane Diedrichs, from Masterton, is one of those players. She has been rewarded for her efforts in the B team last season. She was also one of the four players in the squad from the Canterbury under-21 team last year which was coached by Mrs Ward.

DIANNA LESLIE

Mary Setu, Julie and Ann Culhane complete the list. All are attacking players who should already have a slick combination and trust in each other.

Setu clambered up the netball ladder with unseemly haste but plenty of decorum two seasons ago when she made the Young International squad from out of nowhere. She •travelled with that team to Australia for the World

Youth Cup last year but she spent a disillusioned season on the bench for Hearts during the domestic scene and has opted for the red and white uniform this year. Setu usually associated with wing attack or centre may also double as a part time goal attack, according to Mrs Ward.

Julie Culhane, has been reselected a goal shoot and her sister, Ann, joins the team this year and may be busy in some new positions. “At the moment Ann may be a back up centre. c

She played really nicely there when we were in Wellington. She could also line up at wing attack or goal attack. She is very

competitive and it was excellent to know her from the Canterbury under-21 team last,” said Mrs Ward.

Karen Burrows gave a conscientious account of herself last season and will be settling into her third season in the league.

Mrs Ward has not named a top line-up and indeed may not need to. “It is all going well and eight players are giving 100 per cent. But I am well covered for players and I haven’t got a top line-up. I don’t feel that with any player off the court, that the side is any weaker or stronger.” Mrs Ward predicts a feisty season from St Nicholas with enough pizzazz to dispel the North Island’s exalted rule.

“I think we’ll give them a shock. We want to be competitive and if the team gives 100 per cent, I can’t ask more than that. Obviously we want to get out of the promotion-rele-gation to finish somewhere in the middle.

“It is difficult to judge though as we are so isolated from the other teams in the league.” Behind the breezy smile and bright optimism Mrs Ward is aware of how demanding her task will be taking over in the wake of Pat Carrick, the previous coach. “I am loving it, but deep down I am a bit nervous. I have not been on court for so long that I have to make sure that I am aware of the players’ needs,” she said.