Kuranui to fight for premier netball spot

Five teams are already confirmed as starters in the 2009 Wairarapa premier one netball competition with another three to take their place there after playoff matches are held on April 23 and 24.
Defending champions Harcourts, St Matthew's Collegiate, Gladstone All Blacks, Carterton Masters and Wairarapa College will play in the top league but last season's runners-up, Kuranui College will have to fight for their place.
They have undergone major personnel changes through losing five of last season's side and include two members of the college's teaching staff in their current line-up.
Greytown were part of premier one action in 2008 but have elected not to play there this coming season while Celtic have gone the other way, withdrawing last year but keen to return to the fold this year.
Last year's eighth-placed premier one team Carterton will also be in the playoffs as will the defending premier two champions Fagan Motors.
First round games at the Genesis Recreation Centre on April 23 will see Carterton play Fagan Motors and Kuranui College play Celtic with the two losers clashing the following evening.
There is no question that Harcourts will again start favourites for the premier one title, and to represent Wairarapa in the regional Top Club competition, an honour which will fall to the leading premier one side at the end of the first round.
Outstanding players from last season in Katie Wyeth, Kelly Sargent, Geraldine Carroll, Carlene Karaitiana and Sarah Brooking will be joined in the Harcourts squad by Amy Lucas, who has recently returned to the Wairarapa, Mishelle Teahan, Astee Karaitiana and Eliena Heggie.
A young St Matthew's Collegiate side will include two members of the Netball Wellington Regional level one high performance squad in Talia Hullena and Evie Langland while a third year 10 student Maddison Baker will be making her debut at this level. Jayne Kersten, Paige Dummond and Leanna Taiapa were standout players in 2008 and they can expect strong support from Felicity Mitchell, Emma Cameron, Shannon Sim and Jessica Atmore. Jo McKenzie will again be coach with Trudie Hullena as assistant and Prue Smith returning as manager.
Gladstone All Blacks have named a solid defensive unit. Ces Donaldson is back after injury and will be joined by Sally McKay and Kate Jurlina. Katie Wyeth will be in the midcourt and newcomers Romana Griffin, Deanna Dougan, Lynne Muakiholeva, Sarah Allan and Haley Malcolm complete the side. Sandy McNab is coach.
Wairarapa College coach Maryanne Stuart has opted for an experienced squad all of which are year 12 or 13 students Julie Malcolm and Natasha Hill will lead the team and returning from 2008 are Lily McGilvary, Pohiri Gemmell, Grace Southey, Mel Brock and Courtney Hamilton. Newcomers are Victoria Hodges, AJ Aporo and Sarah Warren.
Carterton Masters sees a good mix of talent from across the club's three top teams last year and while practise sessions are not on their agenda their experience should ensure they are competitive against most sides. Their squad will include Deb Julian, Andy Hale, Nelda Day, Rosie Doherty, Mel Quinn, Nicky Hutchings, Clare Jacobson, Vicki McLeod and Linda Henson.
Kuranui College, as mentioned previously, will be a new-look side in 2009. They will be led by Netball Wellington Region high performance level two player Te Ata Phillips, backed up by her sister Waimarama Phillips, Meg Roberts and Jade Gould. Newcomers are Lucy Roberts, Shinnae Flutey, Lauren Crimp, Chantelle Gleeson and Charisse Gleeson and the two teachers, player-coach Phillipa Park and ex-Greytown player Jess Rutherford.
Celtic have a strong-looking squad. Kate Phillips will play alongside her daughter Hope Phillips with the latter having transferred from Harcourts, along with Trisanna Campbell. Gains from Gladstone are Jamie Reiri and Danielle Gray and others expected to shine are Naomi Reiri, Perri Tatana, Janine Southey and Jodi Graham. Team manager is Jasmine Hemi.
Carterton will have speed in the midcourt through the return after a season away of Stephanie Bunny and Anna Stuart while the McGovern sisters, Emma and Katie, will be in the shooting circle along with a new face to the region in Hannah Crowley. The only players from last year's line-up back again are Jess Mason and Melissa Cullen and Sally Newcombe will be at the defence end. Coach is Sue Eagle.
Fagan Motors have picked up ex-Wairarapa College player Renee Cummings and will be led by the experienced Liz Wilton. Other prominent players in their line-up are Sue McGhie, Kiri Reeves, Raquel Matiaha, Sandi Gray, Sarah Luke, Kahu Cremin and Roimata Rimene.
In all a total of 28 teams will contest the senior inter-club grades in 2009 with Push Play and Join A Club promotions obviously having a positive impact in this regard. Secondary school numbers are down by four teams, however, while the big shock is a decrease of 10 teams at primary level, meaning a whole grade has been removed from that competition. Reasons why are to be the subject of a detailed investigation.
Meanwhile, 25 coaches from all over the region took part in the Netball New Zealand Starting Out in Coaching seminar in Masterton last weekend with facilitator Ivy Topping not only being impressed with the numbers but the quality of attendee. Former Aussie coach Jill McIntosh was also very positive as she shared the skills secondary school coaches, in particular, need to focus on. Her key message was that coaches needed to ensure that players were taught how to perform the basics in pressure situations.
Managerial tips were provided by one of the best in the sport, Jo Holmes, and local physio Judy Brown, took the group through a session which focused on how strapping should be done. She also talked about injury prevention and how to deal with growing pains in the 8yrs-15yrs age group. Jill McIntosh will return to the Wairarapa region on May 2 to put the under-15 and under-17 rep squads through their paces and further Starting out in Coaching courses will be held during the season.