Teamwork lifts shield
By JACOB PAGE – The Timaru Herald
Last updated 05:00 14/06/2010
South Canterbury has won back netball’s Hanan Shield after a 32-27 win over holders North Otago in Timaru yesterday.
A dominant first half performance, which saw the home team lead by eight goals at halftime, set up the win.
A draw against Mid-Canterbury in their opening game, followed by North Otago’s one goal win over the same opposition, meant the final senior game of the day would decide if the shield would head north for the first time since 2008.
South Canterbury was quick off the mark, scoring the first three goals and forcing North Otago to work for almost four minutes for their opening goal.
Poor shooting from North Otago allowed experienced South Canterbury goal shooter Lindsay Anderson to maintain South Canterbury’s lead. The three-goal lead at quarter time was quickly extended after the break.
The South Canterbury defence was hungry and goal defence Kate Johnson and goal keeper Aliesha Rowland swooped on the errant North Otago passing.
South Canterbury goal attack Natalie Williams proved a good foil for Anderson and shot the ball from long-range superbly to give her team a 19-11 lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw North Otago fight back, as they found it easier to get the ball in to the goal circle to score goals.
Sloppy errors and missed shots meant South Canterbury’s momentum had stalled, but they held a five-goal lead with one quarter to play.
The green and blacks had the speed wobbles, and North Otago took advantage to cut the deficit to three goals early in the final quarter.
North Otago had their chances to make the home crowd nervous, but Tracy Moloney snaffled crucial intercepts for South Canterbury in the dying moments, as they hung on for a determined win.
South Canterbury co-coach Lynn Stratford said the whole team performed brilliantly.
“The best thing about the win is that everyone played as a unit.”
Stratford praised the work of Margot Robinson at centre, who usually played at goal-attack in the premier grade competition.
In the other grades of the South Canterbury invitational tournament, the South Canterbury under 17 team prepared for their tournament in North Harbour next weekend with four wins from five games, only losing to eventual winners Canterbury Country.
The under 17 development team had just one win against Mid-Canterbury.
The under-15 team had a single loss as well, while the under 15 development team won all three of their matches in the B grade.
