Petone too good for Rams
Netball HV hands over $100,000 for stadium
Addyson Guy had the honour of marking a special netball milestone on Saturday.
The 5-year-old from Maungaraki School teamed up with 89-year-old Lorraine Duffy to hand over a cheque for $100,000, as Netball Hutt Valley’s contribution to the $12 million Walter Nash Stadium upgrade.
The stadium will give netball a major boost, with all top grade games playing indoors.
Community Facilities Trust spokesman Alister Skene thanked netball for the contribution.
‘‘It is a lot of money for a small voluntary organisation . . . it speaks volumes for your governance and I think it is a magnificent contribution.’’
Mayor Ray Wallace also acknowledged the support of netball. ‘‘What this shows is that netball in the Hutt Valley is strong and it will get stronger with the new facility.’’
Netball Hutt Valley president Genny Jarvis said the cheque represents 25 years of hard work fighting for the upgrade.
‘‘We have been waiting a long time for updated indoor court facilities in the Hutt Valley and are very excited about having a modern, up- to- date indoor facility to complement our current outside courts.’’
Jarvis says netball is in good shape and the improved facilities will give it a big boost.
‘‘It is a very exciting time for netball in our area, 2015 has seen yet another increase in teams at both school and club level. We have also been rolling out a new junior programme which will see participation numbers increase further.’’
Jarvis says it was nice to have Duffy involved in the cheque handover. She has been involved with local netball since 1949 and can still be seen at the Taita courts every Saturday.
Duffy is a life member and was president of the association for 17 years Most of the games in Hutt Valley netball went as predicted, with many of the games being top of the table teams versus bottom. But the match to watch was between the Upper Hutt Rams and Petone Rugby League, which could have gone either way.
The two teams needed the win to get closer to securing a top four spot on the ladder and to progress to the Wellington Superleague competition. The UH Rams had a strong defensive game, with their experienced defenders picking up loose ball and forcing PRL to look for the long passes. PRL retaliated, stepping up from their usual level, and brought out set attacking plays and played with speed, which is uncharacteristic of the team.
The score was close throughout the game, PRL only managing to ever get four goals ahead before the Rams broke a pass and narrowed the score again.
The Rams were hungry for loose ball in their defensive end, but PRL’s swift goal attack Alicia Hina sped through the court and put up a number of goals, helping her team stay ahead. With only four goals separating the teams at both half and three-quarter time, it was anyone’s game.
The Rams injected a better defensive effort at the beginning of the final quarter, but it was not enough. heir attacking plays were not urgent, meaning PRL kept in front until the final whistle.
The final score was 62-57 to Petone Rugby League, putting them in the number four spot on the ladder, which is right where they want to be at this stage of the competition.