Netballers lose to top team

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 48

Netballers lose to top team

Auckland played a pretty slick game of cat and mouse against the Canterbury netball team on the third day of the Trust Bank New Zealand netball tournament in Hamilton yesterday. Auckland, the team that everyone wants to beat, eventually added Canterbury’s scalp to its list with a 40-27 win. But Canterbury was courageous throughout the chase and lingered within five goals for most of the first half. It trailed, 13-23, at halftime, but its coach, Leigh Gibbs, was pleased with its performance. “I felt that they didn’t disgrace themselves. I was pleased with how they went and if they can just have some faith in each other it would be even better,” she said.

Mrs Gibbs felt that the few errors Canterbury made gave Auckland the noose to hang it. "The little slips let a team like Auckland in the door. And when they took off it wasn’t just one goal, it was usually two or three which* was hard to peg back.”

Lee McKenzie played at goal shoot for Canterbury and she appears to be the first choice shooting as April leremia plays a pivotal role at goal attack.

Chris Palmer injured her ankle in the second half but Mrs Gibbs confirmed that it was “just a tweak” and that she will be playing today. The Canterbury defence was once again outstanding and it has the power to keep Canterbury in touch with the leaders. Waikato was in spirited form as it once again came up trumps in the last seconds. It beat Wellington, 28-27, in a thrilling encounter and was buoyed by enthusiastic home support. Canterbury faces both teams today.

Canterbury beat Mount Cook Districts with little trouble, 34-19, yesterday morning. leremia played for the first half but rested in the second as Liz Kazmierczak and McKenzie took over at goalshoot and goal attack respectively.

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