The Wairarapa club netball season opens tonight with a change in format thanks to a massive boost in playing numbers.
This year has seen the formation of eight new teams, leading Netball Wairarapa to introduce an entirely new Premier 1 competition set-up that will see 10 sides take the court for
round one.
The new format, which is similar to that of the club rugby Senior A draw, involves a full round robin series before the division is split leaving the top six to battle it out for the title.
The bottom four, meanwhile, will join the top two from Premier 2 to form the new Premier 1 reserve grade.
Netball Wairarapa center manager Kim Whiteman said the change would provide new impetus to the competition and would likely make for some tough match-ups.
"It will be a stronger competition than it has been in the past, we had four extra teams wanting to play prems this year and they're probably better than some of the teams already in the grade," she said.
"Harcourts are a little weaker than last year and there's a number of teams looking relatively good so the college sides might have their work cut out to make the top four, which would be unusual since they normally get there."
New additions to the competition are Carterton Red, Celtic 1 and Premier 2 champions Harcourts 2, while last year's cellar dwellers Hiona have dropped down on their own accord.
Defending champions Harcourts 1 will again be at the top of everyone's must beat wish list and might be vulnerable early on with Kelly Sargent gone and Hope Phillips and Jasmine Hoani joining Celtic, though they should comfortably make the top six.
Gladstone, semifinalists in 2006, has been boosted by the return of Vicki McLeod and Kim Whiteman from pregnancy and Abby Arcus from university and have the potential to go one better this time round.
Of the college teams St Matthews again appear the strongest while Kuranui could well produce the upsets with a young and relatively unchanged line-up from that which debuted in the competition last year.
They open the season against newcomers Harcourts 2 at the Recreation center Masterton tonight at 6pm with Gladstone then taking on Salute Greytown at 7.30pm.
On Saturday Sports Arena Carterton get things moving in the morning against Celtic 1 at the Colombo Road courts at 10.30am followed by club mates Carterton Red and Wairarapa College at noon.
The match-up of the week features a repeat of last year's final with St Matthew's tackling Harcourts 1, also at noon.
Harcourts 1
Last year - First
Squad: Katie Wyeth, Emma Foote, Sarah Brooking, Lisa Bultler, Carlene Karaitiana, Tania Davidson, Casey Pederson, Mischell Teahan, Geraldine Carroll (currently injured).
Sports Arena Carterton
Coach: Trudie Hullena
Squad: Emma McGovern, Nelda Day, Kala Dudson, Andi Hale, Anna Stuart, Jess Berkhart, Stephanie Hurley, Bridget Minehan, Jess Evans.
Gladstone All Blacks
Last year - Third
Coach: Sandra McNab
Squad: Kate Foxcroft, Emma Clinton-Baker, Lisa Manihera, Jacqui Wadham, Jo Booth,
Ces Donaldson, Kate Anderson, Abby Arcus, Vicki McLeod, Kim Whiteman.
Salute Greytown
Coach: Sue Button
Squad: Natasha Robinson, Lorraine Moloney, Teresa Rzoska, Carla Didsbury, Tracey Fisher, All Weatherstone, Kimberley Te Whare, Fay French.
St Matthew's
Last year ? Second
Coach: Jo Rutherford
Squad: Sophie Ross, Harriet Somerville, Ashley McDougall, Jesse Smith, Paige Drummond, Sophie Deans, Rosie Broughton, Sally Mitchell, Leanna Taiapa, Amelia Smith.
Wairarapa College
Last year ? Fourth
Coach: Mel Bint
Squad: Lisa Morriss, Vicki Green, Rachel Mawson, Lily McGilvary, Cushla Gordon, Alex Taia, Maria Hodges, Renee Cummings, Amy Pollock, Emma Mason, Kelsey Butcher, Emily Simpson.
Kuranui
Coach: Linda Strange
Squad: Chanel Phillips, Te Ata Phillips, Waimarama Phillips, Alana Strange, Tania Starnge, Natasha Hill, Dawn Bregman, Stacey Guthrie, Renee Oakly.
Harcourts 2
Squad: Kelly Rimene, Danell Keith, Naomi Cressy, Lisa Hannam, Camille Hullena, Tiara Russo, Kaare Smallman, Kirsten Brown, Tammy McGregor, Mataria TeWhare.
Carterton Red
Squad: Deb Julian, Nicki Hutchings, Mel Quin, Gaylene Malcolm, Dayna Calkin, Tracey Winmill, Chantel Cleary, Nadine Hampson, Charlotte Greig, Kelly Matthews.
Celtic 1
Coach: Dayle Clarkson
Squad: Hope Phillips, Katie Phillips, Janine Southey, Logan Karaitiana, Jamie Reiri, Tiffany Paku, Perri Tatana, Jasmine Hoani, Naomi Reiri.
Full first round draw is available on www.netballwairarapa.co,nz
The Wairarapa club netball season opens tonight with a change in format thanks to a massive boost in playing numbers.
This year has seen the formation of eight new teams, leading Netball Wairarapa to introduce an entirely new Premier 1 competition set-up that will see 10 sides take the court for
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