Move to Fridays mooted

Netball

Whether a move to have premier one netball matches in Wairarapa played on Friday nights this season is successful will be known by the end of this week.

Netball Wairarapa president Sandy Biel confirmed yesterday that rather than make the decision at the annual meeting all premier one clubs had been asked to go back to their members to get their views on the matter and then report back to the association.

"Basically, we've said to the clubs find out what your players think and we will take it from there," Biel said.

All premier one matches last season were played outdoors on Saturdays at the Colombo Rd courts but some clubs have reportedly found it difficult to find coaches for this year's teams because of possible candidates being unavailable through family commitments at weekends and they believe a shift to Friday nights could help overcome that problem.

Biel said it was difficult to predict whether the Friday night proposal would receive sufficient support for it to become a reality. "From what we are hearing, it could be pretty much touch and go, we'll have to wait and see," she said.

All senior interclub grades will get under way on May 11 with primary school grades kicking off on May 18.

On the representative front, Netball Wairarapa are planning to select teams in the Year 7, Year 8, under-15, under-17 and under-19 age groups for the 2014 season. Coaches are Trudy Hullena (U-17 and 19), Melissa Cullen (U-15), Georgia Lologa (Year 9), Kala Dudson (Year 8) and Sheryn Elliott (Year 7). Trials for the U-19, U-17, U-15 and Year 9 teams will be held this Saturday. Trials for the Years 8 and 9 teams are on May 12.