Premier netball season to begin

Premier netball returns to Opunake this season for the first time in nearly five years.

The Sandfords Event Centre will host matches in round three of grading at the end of April with other games scheduled later in the season. The events centre features a full-size court with a 220-seat grandstand overlooking the facility to provide optimum viewing for spectators.

Other premier venues include New Plymouth’s TSB Stadium, Waitara’s Whai Tapuwae No¯ Rongo, Stratford’s TET MultiSport Centre and the TSB Hub in Hawera.

Netball Taranaki Games Administrator Pia Bailey-Nowell said it’s exciting to host matches right around the mountain this season.

‘‘We are literally bringing netball to all communities around Taranaki and we hope the wider community will get behind Premier Netball.’’

With Netball Taranaki’s inclusivity towards male players, Bailey-Nowell said seven males will play across six teams in the premier one, two and three competitions. ‘‘The success and acceptance of males in our female competitions was really well received by the netball community who play in our premier competition’’ she said.

Teams can only have two males registered and only one can take the court.

Significant player movements in 2021 include Kelston Reynolds, who moves from Tysons West to Raukura premier two, Nikita Roberts from Tysons East to Stratford/Eltham and Kendyl Fake and Taylor Kahui who will now play for Naumai premier three from its premier one team. There are also changes to several teams’ coaching set-up. Che Tamati returns to coach Tysons East. He was involved in the strong club’s five consecutive titles. He replaces Jane Parker-Bishop. Tamati will also coach Sacred Heart Girls College in the premier two competition. Kristie Waretini joins New Plymouth Old Boys premier one side in replace of Ann Rodgers, who moves to Tukapa premier two team. Patricia O’Carroll-Leota will head Raukura and Karina Lewis will coach Bell Block Marist Dragons

Premier one and premier three matches will be played on Thursday nights, while the premier two competition will be on Friday evenings. There will be an entry fee at all venues.

ROUND 1 DRAW

Premier 1 – Thursday, April 15: NPGHS vs Inglewood, 6.45pm, TET Stadium; NPOB vs Naumai, 6.45pm, TSB Hub; Tysons East vs Stratford/Eltham, 8.15pm, TET Stadium; Premier 2 – Friday, April

16: SHGC vs Inglewood, 6.45pm, TET Stadium; Tysons West vs Tukapa, 7pm, Whai Tapuwae No¯ Rongo; Inglewood HS vs Raukura, 8.15pm, TET Stadium; Premier 3 – Thursday, April 15: Bell Block Marist Dragons v The Locals,

6.45pm, TSB Hub; Inglewood vs Hawera HS, 8.15pm, TSB Hub; Naumai vs Stratford/Eltham, 8.15pm, TSB Hub.