Ferns returns mark new season
Never has New Zealand’s love affair with netball looked so sad. Losing more games than they win these days, the pressure is on and Netball NZ will be looking to the second season of the “home-alone“ANZ Premiership to find the answers to the sorry state they have found themselves in since cutting ties with the Aussies in the old ANZ Championship. Same six teams as last year with the Wendy Frew-captained Southern Steel defending the title they won in beating the Pulse. In a rematch of these two teams at the recent pre-season tournament in Otaki, the Pulse thumped the Steel
64-40. Both teams were without their Silver Ferns who were on a two-week stand-down after the Comm Games debacle. Any rejuvenation should, on paper, start with the Northern Mystics who boast seven current or former Silver Ferns and have former internationals Sonya Hardcastle and Linda Vagana to assist coach Helene Wilson. They finished third last season. The South Auckland-based Northern Stars look set to improve on last season’s fifth with the likes of England captain Anna Agbeze and internationals Grace Kara, Paula Griffin and Ellen Halpenny in their ranks. Competition starts with a Super Sunday in Palmerston North when all six teams take the court. Further games on Monday and Wednesday make for a busy opening stanza.
● ANZ Premiership, tomorrow from 2pm; Monday/ Wednesday 7.30pm. Wendy Frew of the Southern Steel celebrates with the trophy last season.