It will be the start of a new era for inter-club netball in Wairarapa tonight with two premier one matches being played at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton. It will be the first time that official club games have been played there although the Wairarapa senior team had three gamesat the centre as part of their highly successful regional super league campaign. And the venue won high praise, both for its playing surface and viewing facilities. First game tonight is that between St Matthew's Collegiate and Celtic Marist, starting at 6pm. St Matthew's are the defending champions and much has been made of the fact they have lost their first two games this season. But while they haven't shown the same fluency as last season their defeats have been narrow affairs to Wairarapa College and Collegiate, both of whom are serious contenders for the premier one title in 2005. To lose by just seven goals to a Collegiate side chockful of Wairarapa representatives was, in fact, a good sign for St Matthew's and if they can repeat that form then victory over Celtic Marist is on the cards. Featherston and Hiona will play the late game tonight, starting at 7.30pm, and they will both be keen to pick up their first win of the season. Featherston gave Greytown a fright last weekend and deserve to start favourites. The two games at Colombo Road courts tomorrow will see Greytown up against Wairarapa College and All Blacks taking on Collegiate. The strong start they have made suggests Wairarapa College will win their game by a relatively comfortable margin and while All Blacks have had a win and draw (with Wairarapa College) in their two games so far they will battle to stay in touch with Collegiate which already looks the obvious choice for overall honours in the premier league.
