Netball: Tall timber boost for Cometz side

By Terry Maddaford

The astute signings of taller goal-shooters Karen Gaddes and Janine Topia have boosted the chances of the Ruth Aitken-coached CMTV Cometz in netball's 1999 Coca-Cola Cup.

The Counties Manukau-Thames Valley-based side struggled at times last season with smaller shooters. In luring 1.89m Gaddes from the Waikato Wildcats and 1.88m Topia from the Northern Force, Aitken has bolstered her attack.

Pauline Marsh, who played centre/wing-attack in Topia's Northern Force last season, has also switched camps, as has former Silver Fern Temepara George, who played with the Auckland Diamonds.

Also in the Cometz squad are Bobbie McKay - former stunt double for Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess - and Koren Pickard, daughter of New Zealand cricket selector Rick Pickard.

The Diamonds were the only North Island team to reach the 1998 semifinals but the Northern Force look set to go at least that far this season.

The Alison Wieringa-coached side include incumbent or former internationals Sheryl Clarke, Jenny-May Coffin, Sonya Hardcastle, Lorna Suafoa, Teresa Tairi and Linda Vagana.

Former Silver Ferns coach Lyn Gunson will coach the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, who include touch international and netball academy squad member Amigene Rangitaawa and former Silver Fern Tania Nicholson.

The Sky City Diamonds are without George, Leilani Read (returned to Wellington), Sheryl Waite, Irene Forbes and Angela Maoate.

Their new players include Kylie Hall and Courtney Read, who joins her sister, Nicky, from the Cometz, Tammy Kupa from Hawkes Bay and Northland representative Moana Clark, who missed a couple of seasons through injury and to have a baby.

Louisa Wall, a double netball-rugby international, did not play in the Cup last year but returns to the court to add strength to the Diamonds' mid-court.

The first round is on March 19 and March 21.

Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic: Cushla Litchwark (Waik) Amigene Rangitaawa (Waik), Megan Brown (Waik), Rachel Cameron (Waik), Nadia Hanning (BOP), Leigh Price (Sth Auck), Kelly Dumper (Manukau), Tania Nicholson (NH), Monika Gabriel (Manukau), Sarah Bonham (BOP), Ann Culhane (Waik), Jodi Tini (Waik).

CMTV Cometz: Karen Gaddes, Janine Topia, Renee Jacobsen, Dallas Ashmore, Colette Devcich, Temepara George, Pauline Marsh, Abigail Repia, Bobbie McKay, Allison Toi, Koren Pickard, Roxanne Chatterton.

Northern Force: Sheryl Clarke, Jenny-May Coffin, Elizabeth Dean, Opheira Harder, Sonya Hardcastle, Dionne Moors, Sharon Pomfrett, Lorna Suafoa, Sharlene Smith, Laila Tai, Teresa Tairi, Linda Vagana; squad members Ripeka Albert, Joanne Anderson, Rochelle Hardcastle, Haylee Money, Hikitia Taituha

Sky City Diamonds: Kiri Adams, Moana Clark, Megan Dalgety, Kate Dowling, Kylie Hall, Verina Konui, Tammy Kupa, Leonie Leaver, Kelly Preece, Courtney Read, Nicky Read, Louisa Wall.