Netballers hand out lesson

Press, 27 July 1989, Page 29

Netballers hand out lesson

NZPA Karlsruhe New Zealand stepped up a gear yesterday as it handed i out a third hiding in as many i matches at the World Games netball tournament. < After demolishing Scotland and the Cook Islands by 49 i and 36 points respectively on i Tuesday, New Zealand i hammered hapless Fiji, 66- i 17, equalling its own record ; of the biggest winning < margin in the tournament to < date. 1 Any semblance of a contest had gone within two and a i half minutes by which stage i New Zealand had shot to a 9- < 0 lead. I At half-time it was 31-9 and 1 to its credit the defending

champion maintained the pressure right to the end, even though the standard of the opposition meant the Kiwis were never under pressure. There was a higher error rate than in the first two matches. That was partly down to playing the game at a deliberately faster speed and a very steamy atmosphere inside the Europahalle stadium, making handling difficult. The coach, Lyn Parker, was happy with the effort and not overly concerned at shooting problems suffered by the goal shoot, Tracy Eyrl. The North Shore player

missed 11 of her 33 attempts in the first half, but improved after the interval to finish with 42 goals from 57 shots. The goal attack, Julie Carter, in an impressive all-round performance, notched 24 goals from 30 attempts. "I was much happier with the work rate of the players, the ball speed and the balance on court. It was difficult to practise some of the skills we’ll need in the later games. “The shooters didn’t have as good a day as yesterday but conditions were worse today than any other day since we’ve been here,” Ms Parker said after the match. Ms Parker opted to rest the

captain, Wai Taumaunu, youngster Louisa Wail, the experienced attacker, Rita Fatialofa and the goal shooter, April leremia, and gave the goalkeepers, Robyn Diilimore and Sharon Burridge half a match apiece. Diilimore and Burridge are in contention for a place in the remaining games against England and Australia. Both gave sound performances, with Diilimore marginally more effective. Results: Australia 41, England 29; New Zealand 67, Fiji 17; Cook Islands 38, Scotland 20. Points: New Zealand 6, Australia 6, England 4, Cook Islands 2, Fiji 0, Scotland 0.