Nelson netball season preview

With only one round completed in 2020 before Covid-19 abruptly halted the season, local netballers are itching to get back on court.

It’s been a long wait for players with just six premier games able to be played last season.

There will again be six sides competing for the top prize in Nelson Netball as defending champions Prices Ahurei will be challenged by Jacks, Stoke, Richmond, Prices Pango and Nelson College for Girls.

Prices will attempt to secure a three peat after securing the titles in 2018 and ’19.

The side will be without inspirational captain Dayna Whiting, who will sit out the season as she prepares for the birth of her first child, but will once again have the services of star shooter Shar Lowe.

Kalyssa Rasmussen shapes as a key figure following her recent shift from Stoke while Holly Chandler has consistently been a standout on defence.

Former Tactix star Zoe Walker will also return to the region after an injury plagued run while Lucy Ingham will be a handful on attack.

Price's biggest rivals will of course be Jacks, beaten finalists in both 2019 and ’18.

Dual-code superstar Jess Drummond will again be integral to Jacks' success as the side will be desperate to break their title drought after consecutive heart-breaking losses.

Jordan Webby’s performance in the 2019 final was indicative of her value to Jacks, her intercepts crucial to stifling the opposition attack while college star Chloe Webb will be one to keep an eye on.

Richmond boasts a strong looking squad with the acquisition of Bayley Templeton from Jacks and Natalie Fullman from Prices as well as national touch rep Courtney Lott while veteran Kat Jones brings plenty of experience to the circle.

Stoke's Megan Thomson will be hoping to continue her strong shooting form on the back of slick service from Amber Healey and Sarah Fitsimanu.

Kimberly Curry leads an inexperienced Nelson College for Girls side.

Also new to the Nelson Netball scene this season is Leigh Gibbs, who has taken the reins as Centre Manager.

Leigh brings a wealth of experience to her new role as gold medalist and world champion.

She has served as assistant coach for the Silver Ferns when the team won a gold medal at both the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships in 2003 and 2006 and a silver medal at the same two competitions in 2002 and 2007.

She is a former Silver Ferns captain and vice-captain and won the World Championships as a player in 1979 and 1987 and coached the Mainland Tactix from 2012-2014.

Leigh is delighted at an increase in player numbers with seven extra sides entered into competition in 2021.

“I am really encouraged, we are hoping the competition is going to be a really enjoyable one and a really positive experience for everyone involved whether they are players, coaches, umpires or officials.”

Leigh says she will observe a full season before making any changes in her new role.

“I have got some ideas, but I want to get a season under my belt, we need to be innovative, we keep providing something people want to be involved in and keep asking ourselves ‘are we providing structures and formats that are appealing?’”

Leigh says they are also looking at incorporating a mixed competition after the positive reception the side received at the annual Geraldine Hodgson festival.

A rep season will also start at the beginning of May for U14-18’s.

The NBS Premier Netball Competition will get underway on Thursday May 6 with Saturday netball starting two days later.

The season will run through until September.

Teams will battle it out across three competition rounds followed by semis and finals.

An automatic promotion/relegation will occur between the bottom ranked team in premier and the top ranked team in grade one following the first two rounds.

NBS (Nelson Building Society) are the naming right partners of the 2021 Premier Netball Competition

Games take place at 6.15pm and 7.45pm on courts one and two inside Saxton Stadium on Thursday evening.

Squads:

Prices Waimea Ahurei- Holly Chandler, Lucy Ingham, Tuihana Kinita, Shar Lowe, Harriet Ogilvie, Sheree Peters, Kalyssa Rasmussen, Chelsea Reed, Shannen Smith, Zoe Walker. Coach: Mandy Whiting.

Jacks- Jordan Webby, Emily Stalker, Kirsty Thompson, Anna Miles, Jess Drummond, Holly Young, Chloe Webb, Rayna Olsen, Shevaun Collier, Katie de Ruiter, Lilly Zwart. Coach: Robyn Leonard.

Stoke- Megan Thomson, Rachel George, Jarrah Solly, Holly Keenan, Sarah Fitsimanu, Amber Healey, Paige Brazier, Sarah Mather, Nicola Hone, Debbie Fitzpatrick, Sarah Watkins, Leea Conning. Coach Toni Lindsay.

Prices Waimea Pango- Nicole Adams, Liligail Barrier, Georgia Buchanan, Lauren Chaney, Meagan Jeffrey, Kim Lammers, Aimee Lewis, Teish Prescott, Milly Thurlow, Lizzie Wallace. Coach: Keryn Kircher.

Richmond- Shardae Wanoa-Herring, Tiare Morehu, Courtney Lott, Bayly Templeton, Chelsea Martin, Hana Hart-Tava, Natalie Fullman, Oriana Houra, Celina Ledgard, Kat Jones, Marina Hirst-Tristram. Co-Coaches: Kathleen Thornalley and Marjolein Edwards.

Nelson College for Girls- Kim Curry, Tasmyn Wilkins, Rose Stephenson, Lola King, Brydie Paterson, Mia Fletcher, Lulu Uia, Tamara Bannister, Chloe Dixon, Grace Meehan. Coaches: Faye Eden and Lyn Fleming.