Some of the HB netball team members. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Some of the HB netball team members. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Whatever happens in the revamp of the national netball scene Hawke's Bay's senior players want to be involved.
"We don't know exactly what the new format will be but this was the last nationals in this format - the fact our players want to be involved at this level isa big positive for us," Hastings Pak 'N Save Hawke's Bay coach Charissa Barham said, after her team secured 14th place with a 55-35 win against Tokoroa in Wellington yesterday.
"It was good to get a senior team away for the first time in a while and this means Hawke's Bay was represented at year 8, under-15, 17, 19 and senior levels this year," Barham said.
She got all 11 of her players on court yesterday and she was impressed with the contribution of her 16-year-old goal attack Emma Vennell, who played half a game. Former Silver Fern Katarina Cooper started the game at wing attack and was strong during the two-and-half quarters she had at goal shoot.
"It was good to get feedback from the players wanting more at this level, particularly the older ones who aren't at school. It's all about the bigger picture and Hawke's Bay has too big a player base to miss out on the opportunity to experience play at national level."
Defender Briar Chalmers will swap her player's bib for a coach's tracksuit next week when she takes Napier Girls' High School to the national secondary schools' tournament in Ashburton.
Wellington beat North Harbour 59-38 in the final. Christchurch beat Auckland 59-41 in the playoff for third.
Retired international Irene van Dyk did not take the court for Wellington. Goal shoot Te Amo Amaru sunk 25 of her 34 attempts and goal attack Ameliaranne Wells 34 of her 40.
Auckland goal shoot Megan Craig succeeded with 11 of her 13 attempts and goal attack Malia Paseka 18 of her 24.
