Super league opens doors

Netball

Netball Wairarapa has announced an 11-player squad to take part in the Wellington super league netball competition, beginning next month. It will involve eight matches, all on Thursday evenings.

Coach Dayle Clarkson is under no illusions about the "tough ask" for her side but believes that with many of them having played for Wairarapa at age group levels, they would respond well to the challenge.

Clarkson sees the entry in the super league as an important step for Wairarapa players as they aspire for higher honours in bigger provinces like Wellington and Manawatu.

"We need regions like them to recognise Wairarapa is a breeding ground for talent and this competition will hopefully help that happen," Clarkson said.

The Wairarapa squad is: Carlene Karaitiana, Evie Langlands (Harcourts); Jahmin Te Karu (Chanel); Elleshia Clarkson, Katarina Matapuku, Bailey Peterson, Rennie Hemara, Anna Garnett, Perri Tatana-Williams, Kerewai Tatana, Stevie Paine (Celtic).

Meanwhile, Wairarapa players featured prominently at the New Zealand Maori netball nationals in North Harbour over the Easter break.

The under-19 grade saw seven Wairarapa girls take to the court for the Wellington regional side; Ikaroa ki te Taonga, who finished a creditable fourth in their 10-team competition. Talia Hullena was excellent as captain alongside fellow Celtic teammates Katarina Matapuku, Bailey Peterson, Rennis Hemara and Anna Garnett as well as Kahu Brown and Larissa O'Brien from Wairarapa College.

Part of the winning team in the under-19 grade, Manawatu's Ikaroa ki te Raki, was Elleshia Clarkson and she was later named in the under-17 tournament team. She is also playing for Celtic in the Wairarapa premier grade this season.