By JULIE ASH
Auckland Waitakere have a tough start to the national netball championships in Invercargill today.
Because of an increase in teams for the first division, sides had to play one local derby match before the week-long tournament began.
Auckland Waitakere were beaten 71-52 by defending champions Waikato last weekend. Now
they face Wellington today in a match they must win if they are to stay in top-four contention.
Coach Marlene Flavell said her side knew they were in for a tough encounter against the more experienced Wellington side.
"With Irene van Dyk, all they have to do is to give the ball to her and she will certainly score at least 90 per cent of the time.
"For us, it's a matter of putting pressure on their feeders and ensuring our defence work together."
Counties and Manukau face Eastern (Gisborne) this morning and Western Manawatu this afternoon.
"It would have been nice to have just had the one game on the first day, but our circumstances didn't allow for that," Counties and Manukau coach Jan Lundon said.
"It was too expensive for both teams to get together last weekend, so we have to play our local derby match in Invercargill."
She said her team knew little about the Eastern side, but they beat Manawatu in a pre-season match.
"Manawatu are a well-rounded young side who will have improved since we last played them. I don't think there will be any easybeats in this competition."
Netball North beat Western Manawatu 53-48 in their first match in Invercargill, and Southland, who have called in Tall Fern Sally Farmer to replace the injured Megan Hutton, thumped Tasman 83-38.
In today's other first division matches, Netball North play Otago, Waikato meet Tasman and Southland face Bay of Plenty.
In this year's revamped competition, New Zealand has been divided into 12 regions. Each region has a team in the first division, which has been divided into two pools.
Pool A comprises Waikato, Southland, Auckland Waitakere, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Tasman, and pool B comprises Netball North, Canterbury, Counties and Manukau, Otago, Western Manawatu and Eastern. There will be a second division of 10 teams.
Teams play a round-robin before they are re-seeded to play crossover matches.
The semifinals will be on Friday and the finals Saturday.
