Weekend clashes test contenders

STATE League netball returns to Hobart tonight with eight games spread over the weekend and all nine teams taking the court.

AYC-Friends Arrows won their third consecutive grand final last year and have been the team to beat, with last year’s surprise semi-final loss to Northern Hawks their only defeat in three years. With most teams having multiple changes, including Arrows, the season is being touted as one of the closest for a few years.

Key matches over the weekend include tonight’s clash between Karana Flames who finished third last year, and Cripps Waratah, who finished just outside the four.

Cripps have a new coach, Fiona Moore, and the exper- ienced Kelly Bowring and Sophia Cole return to the State League. Along with its up-andcoming young stars, it should give Cripps a great balance of youth and experience.

Last year’s runners-up Northern Hawks have a tough road trip against Karana and Kingston Blues in what should be a great test of where they’re sitting after a strong pre-season.

Hawks’ prolific goalscoring end, including Ashlea Mawer, Danielle Pickett and Zoe Claridge, remains unchanged and will be hard to stop.

Kingston finished fourth last year and will also play Cavaliers. Both teams have made some exceptional inclusions, with key match-ups possibly being through the centre court.

Cavaliers playmakers Shelby Miller and Dana Lester are likely to line up against the dynamic Greta Shelton and the hardworking Lucy Bosker.

Cavaliers will also meet a new-look OHA, which will be looking to start strongly under new coach Karen Leonard.

Arrows will face off against Burnie Tigers and Devon, and shooter Sophie Gunn, one of only four returning players, is confident of a good start.

“We have lost a few key players, but we’re really happy with the team that we’ve got and we’re looking forward to a competitive season,” she said.