Net ball St Nicholas always in control against Rata

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 24

Net ball St Nicholas always in control against Rata

By

DIANNA LESLIE

As the well oiled St Nicholas mechanism turned over like clockwork, time ran out for the courageous Rata side in a Bendon League national club promotion-relegation netball match at the Hagley courts on Saturday.

St Nicholas won the encounter, 50-41, and was always in control with the exception of a daring Rata bid in the third quarter when it produced a strong effort to draw level just before quar-ter-time. St Nicholas is now assured of a place in the league next year and Noeline Ward, its coach, plans to be in charge. ‘T’ve learnt a lot and I’ll come out again next year,” she said. Mrs Ward had some tense moments in the third quarter when Rata came from five down to snap at St Nicholas’s heels.

"We took the difficult options in the third quarter while they chose the easy ones. We had miles more ball, but we didn’t do much with it,” said Mrs Ward. Robyn Broughton, the Rata coach, was philosophical about the loss. “If we can’t foot with the bottom team, that’s all there

is to it,” she said. "But St Nicholas don’t look as sharp as the Auckland teams that I’ve seen on television. It was more physical than we are used to as well, but we would have to get used to that,” she said.

Mrs Ward was quick to deny that St Nicholas was too brutal.

“That wasn’t physical compared to the league. In fact I thought my team played too wide,” said Mrs Ward. Mrs Ward praised Julie Culhane, who played at goal attack and later, goal shoot, for her diligent performance. April leremia and Annette Heffernan, the New Zealand players who were fresh to their club line-up after the World Games, both had superb games, adding their own brand of sparkle on attack and defence respectively. A strong group of supporters turned out in the gloriously warm conditions to cheer their team on to victorx- ...... .. .

St Nicholas’ attack was swift and incisive as Chris Palmer and Bev Gordon fed the goal circle astutely and leremia set up a nimble pace to the goal post where she shot high and accurately. She netted 29 of her 41 attempts.

Culhane netted 21 out of 31 shots.

Heffernan was in fine touch at goal defence as was Karen Burrows at goal keep. Both uncoiled their lanky frames to snatch possession at will. Heffernan, in particular, was effective on attack as she cut through the "middle man” and fired passes deep in St Nicholas' attacking line. Although usually effective there were times when wayward passes fell into the eager Rata hands. Rata had a sound rapport on attack as Judy Clark, formerly a Canterbury Country player, had a wily game, and still maintained a high accuracy level. She slotted 14 of her 19 attempts and was well supported by Fiona Ward at goal shoot, who scored 27 of 45 attempts. St Nicholas led, 13-9, at the end of the first quarter, 24-19 at half time and 33-32 at the three quarter mark. But it resumed a controlled stance in the final quarter as Phil Green came on in place of Bev Gordon at centre and leremia and Culhane switched positions. “Bev looked tired,” said Mrs Ward. "It was a turning point because Phil was fresh and April gave the court work more control.”