Canty loses netball match

Press, 8 June 1989, Page 56

Canty loses netball match

The Canterbury netball team’s form was thoroughly tested by an intense Western Australian Institute of Sport side under the lights at the Hagley courts last evening.

Canterbury’s uncompromising recent form was shattered by the visitors who took a 39-22 win in blustery nor’westerly conditions.

The Australian team has been tested by the most extreme weather that Canterbury can offer — as it spent the week-end playing in the rain — but nothing appears to diminish its speed and accuracy.

“It was a consistent four quarter effort,” said Jill Macintosh, the Australian coach. “I was pleased with Helen Carter (goal defence) and Sally Ironmonger (goalkeep).” Leigh Gibbs, the Canterbury coach, was aware of the problems her side had in driving the ball down the court as it tried in vain to prise its way through the Australians’ defence.

“They really worked us hard tonight,” she said. “We couldn’t get the ball through court but I was pleased with what our defence did. We had a lot of possession but we had difficulty putting it into goals.” Sharron Burridge and Sandy MacPherson put up a gutsy front for the athletic and deceptive attacking line at goalkeep and goal defence respectively, but there was no let up in the Australian assault, and what opportunities it had under the goal post invariably found their way through the net.

Canterbury was in trouble from the peel of the first whistle and took five minutes to sink its first goal. It trailed, 10-3, at the end of the first quarter and 20-10 by half-time. Annette Heffernan came off injured in the second quarter and the defence reshuffled as MacPherson took Heffernan’s place at wing defence and Karen Burrows came on at goal defence.

Australia appeared increasingly comfortable with its game plan and worked the ball well throughout the court. A healthy crowd assembled to watch the match which did not quite deliver what it had promised. But Canterbury will have another chance to match its skills against the Australians at 6 p.m. this evening.