Netball: Magic visit Westbrook courts

MAGIC ARE COMING: The ANZ Netball Roadshow will visit Rotorua tomorrow. Pictured is Magic player Leana de Bruin (front) fighting for the ball. PHOTO/FILE

A Rotorua club team has been given the opportunity to throw around a ball with the Kia Magic, as part of the build-up to the Magic versus Adelaide Thunderbirds match in Rotorua.

Tuhoe Netball have been selected to take part in the ANZ Netball Roadshow visiting the Westbrook netball courts tomorrow.

The roadshow is being staged in Rotorua as part of the build-up to Kia Magic's ANZ Championship match at the Energy Events Centre on Sunday.

Five Magic players will visit the Westbrook netball courts from 1pm tomorrow to take part in a warm-up with Tuhoe and meet fans.

The five Magic players attending will be Jo Harten, Courtney Tairi, Ellen Halpenny, Bessie Manu and Jo Trip.

There will be a big crowd down at the netball courts tomorrow as the Rotorua netball season officially gets under way.

Tuhoe are competing in the premier division one competition this year with their first game getting under way at 2.30pm tomorrow.

Tuhoe senior player Paere Hunuhunu said her team was looking forward to playing in the premier grade again, after about 30 years in the lower divisions, and the warm-up with the Magic would make it all the more special.

The ANZ Championship trophy will also be on display for fans to see and get photos with.

More family fun in store as Tuhoe return to premier grade after 30 years

Local side Tuhoe step up into the premier grade for the first time in about 30 years when the Rotorua netball season gets under way this weekend.

Netball Rotorua's Senior Banner Round begins tomorrow afternoon at the Westbrook netball courts.

Tuhoe Netball won the premier division three competition last season and have been graded into premier division one this season.

"We are going to give it our best shot," senior player Paere Hunuhunu said.

"We don't actually train. We just turn up and play.

"We are a very fun team but we like to win as well."

Tuhoe found their way into the premier one division following two weeks of grading at the Westbrook netball courts, held earlier this month.

Hunuhunu said Tuhoe was a family team with lots of cousins and nieces taking part tomorrow.

"We have been going for 40-plus years and we are a real family team," she said.

Hunuhunu said her mother also played for the team until about six years ago. Many other mothers also used to play for the team.

Hunuhunu said the last time they had a team in the premier one division was about 30 years ago.

Tuhoe will be up against Rotoiti On Tap tomorrow at 2.30pm.

The Senior Banner Round will run for seven weeks, starting tomorrow, before the Rotorua Netball Centre re-grades the teams for the championship round, also over seven weeks.