IN CONTROL: Kaierau's Jackie Abraham was in complete command netting 20 from 22 shots, or 91 per cent, in the defending champion's 44-22 win over Premier 1 grade newcomers Mere Te Aroha on Monday night.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY
IN CONTROL: Kaierau's Jackie Abraham was in complete command netting 20 from 22 shots, or 91 per cent, in the defending champion's 44-22 win over Premier 1 grade newcomers Mere Te Aroha on Monday night.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY
DEFENDING champions Kaierau claimed the scalp of newcomers Mere Te Aroha on opening night of the 2016 Whanganui Premier A1 netball season on Monday night.
Wanganui Car Centre-sponsored Kaierau defeated Training For You MTA 44-22 in what is shaping up to be a tough competition with its new eight teamformat, two more than last season.
In fact, all four winners on opening night at Springvale Stadium were teams that featured in the premier grade last season. New World Taihape, which is returning to the grade after a sabbatical, lost 33-31 in a close encounter with Mint Cafe Marist A1.
In other matches, Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School A1 dispatched Cullinane A1 60-53, while Kaiwhaiki beat the newly-named Wanganui Athletic Sports (formerly East Club Sports) 41-36.
Kaierau were dominant throughout their game against MTA, a team that contains six players from other 2015 premier teams and two new to the top grade. In their defence MTA was also carrying a number of injuries on opening night.
Jackie Abraham, who started for Kaierau at goal attack in the first half and moved to goal shoot in the second, carried the shooting load well netting 20 from 22 to finish the game on 91 percent. Coach Marama Cameron was able to play her entire team, taking the opportunity to put various combinations on court with just centre Eleanor Hogan playing the whole game in one position. Hogan last played premier here in 2011 for WHS A1 and has been playing in Palmerston North since leaving school to study. She returned to play in the Vanda Buttars tournament here last year and was selected into the Whanganui senior rep team that competed at the last Lion Foundation National Champs in September last year.
"I was very happy with my team and especially Jackie (Abraham) for shooting 91 percent on opening night - that was exceptional," Cameron said.
Netball Wanganui chief executive Parekura Muraahi said it was exciting with the spread and number of new players (27 in total) to the grade this season.
"It's throughout the teams and that's showing some great promise for the future of netball in Whanganui," Muraahi said yesterday.
A large number of players have also moved camp and will play for other sides this season.
Talented defender Kelera Kuruyabaki, for instance, started at GD for MTA on Monday night. She has been associated with the last two premier grade champions. Kuruyabaki played for three-time champions WHS and then for defending champions Kaierau last year.
WHS coach Lisa Murphy has a mix of new and experienced players this season and she said they were fortunate to get through opening night with a win over Cullinane.
"All credit to them, Cullinane played very well and I'm just glad we managed to come through with a win," Murphy said.
"Half my team are newcomers and three are Year 10 students, but I'm banking on the mix of experienced and new players combining to produce the results we are aiming for. "
