Netball: Bay girls still fighting at age-group nationals

Tina Arlidge

The Hawke's Bay under-19 representative netballers play neighbours Manawatu for 9th-10th place today at the age-group nationals in Auckland.

The HBS Bank-sponsored Bay side beat the Eastern Bay of Plenty 37-35 last night in the tournament at Waitakere.

It was the Hawke's Bay Netball's maiden entry in the age-group competition in its three years of operation.

"They [the Bay team] ended up in a very difficult pool, having to make top two positions to go through to top eight," HB Netball operations manager Tina Arlidge said last night.

Hosts Waitakere and Pukekohe claimed the top two berths in their pool, but Arlidge said Hawke's Bay did not take a step back in pool play.

The Charissa Barham-coached Bay battlers lost 39-32 to Papakura and 36-32 to Waitakere. The winning teams moved on last night to play in top four section after clinching their respective cross-over games yesterday morning.

Hawke's Bay yesterday overwhelmed Manuwera 36-22, but Manawatu pipped them 36-35, so today's encounter should be redemption time.

"This will be the third time this season they have played them [Manawatu]," Arlidge said after they succumbed by 18 goals in their first encounter at the Betty Steffenson Tournament in Palmerston North and then during pool play in Waitakere.

Barham lauded her troops for lifting their standards against some difficult opposition to come off the court every time with nothing left in their tanks.

Arlidge said: "For our very first under-19 team to make the top 10 in their first year is outstanding."