Netball: Reality bites for Poi as size catches up

Kimiora Poi

Sometimes it takes immense courage to swallow a dose of realism in the face of overwhelming evidence.

When Kimiora Poi went to the New Zealand Secondary Schools national netball camp in Cambridge last December, the goal attack came face to face with some daunting physical disparity.

"Everybody was so tall so I knew I could not compete with them and that's the first time I became a midcourter," says the Napier Girls' High School pupil who is heading off to Auckland on Sunday for the New Zealand Netball Age-Group Nationals.

Poi has eased into a versatile wing attack/centre role with aplomb in just her first year after playing as a goal attack from the age of 5.

"It was just their height. I like running around more so I really enjoy playing centre," says the 16-year-old whose mother Roanne Poi and NGHS first team coach Charissa Barham suggested the change.

The year 12 pupil is part of the Eastern Institute of Technology-sponsored Hawke's Bay Under-17 team competing in their second year at the four-day tourney, following the restructuring of formats from Netball New Zealand.

The Bay team comprises players from Napier Girls' High School, Havelock High School, Hastings Girls' High School, Woodford House, Taradale High School and Karamu High School.

Lee-Anne Taylor and Kane Makea coach them while Margot Kerins is the manager.

Poi started playing netball at Tikitiki School, two hours north of Gisborne in the East Coast.

She arrived with her family to Napier four years ago.

This is her first year in a representative netball team because she hadn't attended trials before.

That's because she played basketball as well.

"I still play basketball but they didn't have an under-19 team this year so I'm playing netball."

The competitive thrill of overcoming challenges and registering wins in a collective environment appeal to her.

"I don't like individual sports because you have to do everything yourself.

"In a team you can share the load and it feels much better when you win."

While Poi has ambitions to take netball to an elite level, her goal is to make the New Zealand Secondary Schools squad after having made the New Zealand Maori team this year.

Sometimes she overdoses on netball, having to play for her school, club and representative team.

Consequently the advent of summer codes, touch and volleyball for the school, is a welcome distraction.

Her family also are instrumental in keeping her motivational levels at an optimum.

"My two sisters and mainly my elder brother push me at training," she says.

She is indebted to Barham for improving her level of fitness and honing her skills.

The Bay netballers are in section C of the five-team, eight-section nationals.

They play Hamilton first up on Monday in a round-robin format for two days.

The other teams in their section include Auckland Two, South Canterbury and Horowhenua.

Cross-over matches begin on Wednesday.

To make the top 16, the Bay have to beat at least three teams in their section to advance.

In the several pre-season competitions, the Bay team have made incremental gains.

"The highlight has to be drawing with Wellington Black in Palmerston North," says coach Makea.

"The girls really held their own and didn't let the pressure get to them even when it came down to the last few intense minutes."

Goal shoot Kelsey McPhee, who has also been in the NZ secondary schools' talent development programme, is among other core players in the Bay equation.