A new generation of Iron Maidens
The Rarawa Baby Iron Maidens are making the most of a new winter season in the Mangonui Netball Centre’s Future Ferns grade.
Coach Sharlah Motu said her players, aged from 9 to 10 years old, were fully enjoying themselves and the noncompetitive nature of this year’s campaign.
“We are loving our netball,” she said, “We have played some really cool teams so far and I love how all the teams rotate their players and foster the concept of getting out there and giving everything a go.”
She noted the players were also appreciating hearing all the positive comments from parents on the sidelines on Saturday mornings.
“Sometimes we can get caught up in the game and lose focus on what the main incentive is — just having that healthy relationship and understanding of how the Future Ferns is about participation.
“And you know when you’ve done well when they come off red and smiling like this bunch.”
As the name implies, the Rarawa Baby Iron Maidens line-up is made up mostly of the younger sisters of the players from the original Rarawa Iron Maidens, the Ahipara side which gained international exposure when their team photo was published in UK music mag, Metal Hammer, in 2013 (after being submitted by Age sportsbuster, Francis ‘The Offsider’ Malley).
Sharlah said husband and team manager Whio Motu is also a big Iron Maiden fan, hence the name, and both are more than happy to exploit Malley’s well documented love for the English act to gain wider exposure for their players.
“They love netball as much Frank loves his heavy metal bands, maybe even more!”