Netball SA

SA young guns ready to fire at nationals in Perth

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

By Netball SA

Netball SA`s young guns have been finetuned for their assault on the national under age championships - this year being played in the same city, at the same time, for the first time - in Perth this week from April 1-9.

Injury has forced two late changes - in the 19 and Under side Rachel Horstmann has been replaced by Hannah Horlin-Smith while the 21 and Under have lost Lauren Hyde, with Bianca Moeller stepping into the gap.

Netball SA director of coaching Marg Angove says the 12-player squads travelled well and she has high hopes of a strong showing across the week.

Angove says while the 21 and Under team is the State`s premier under-age squad, she and the coaching panel are expecting a wave of talent coming through at the 17 and Under age level to turn a few heads in Perth.

She says she is convinced this emerging group will demonstrate it is the exciting foundation for the next great era in SA netball at a national and international level.

"One of the keys to this new strength is the regional academy system - we have eight of them around the State and they are really starting to identify and deliver some exceptional talent," Angove says.

"Last year we have quite a few 19-year-olds in our 21 and Under side - and just missed a top four finish - so we have the nucleus of a very good side this year," she says.

"Players out of the SA Sports Institute and with experience in the Thunderbirds, such as Nadia Mapunda and Sheree Wingard will be joined by new faces such as Melissa Rowland."

Rowland is a 194-centimetre shooter and former squad member with the Melbourne Phoenix now training with the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Angove says she will provide a powerful forward focus for the 21 and Under side.

Angove is supportive of the new nationals program, even though it is asking a lot of players to get into the season a lot earlier than usual.

She says in past years the two younger sides would play earlier, with the 21 and Unders not competing until October.

"But this year we will all be at Challenge Stadium in Mt Claremont at the same time," Angove says.

"Despite the early start we are confident SA will stamp its mark on the titles this year, and certainly sound a warning about the years to come - sport is a wheel that keeps turning and while we have had a bit of a gap with a lot of established stars leaving the sport in recent years, our next generation is coming."

The selected teams are:

21&U

Nicole Wood

Jessica Hazel

Abbey Holmes

Bianca Moeller

Nadia Mapunda

Jenna Mendo

Melissa Rowland

Beth Shimmin

Luka Thompson

Kimberly Walker

Khao Watts

Sheree Wingard

Reserves: Sarrita King, Kate Williams, Nicole Wood

Coach: Trudy Barker

Manager: Bronwyn Tonkin

Click here for 21&U Draw and Results

19&U

Hollie Buick

Jaki Fuss

Michelle Gifford

Hannah Horlin-Smith

Brooke Jeffs

Victoria Keller

Alice Murt

Joanne Nixon

Laura Packard

Jo Pontt

Jessica Roberts

Kirsten Sterry

Reserves: Zoe Altmann, Miriam Buxton, Alanna Cross, Whitney Mickan, Adele Thomas

Coach: David Portolesi

Manager: Lee-Anne Cummins

Click here for 19&U Draw and Results

17&U

Rhea Bergmann

Lyndall Crichton

Kaylene Hill

Ashton Hurn

Chloe Joyce

Laura Marslen

Lenise McIntyre

Tamsin Petzer

Kate Shimmin

Bodelle Stanley

Stephanie Ventrice

Nicola Yeeles

Reserves: Simone Cocks, Taylor Krawczyk, Jordan Lange, Ella Mickan, Karlee Player, Sophie Roach, Amehlia Schmidt, Leah Thomson

Coach: Judy Greenwood

Manager: Sandy Cochrane

Click here for 17&U Draw and Results

SA young guns ready to fire at nationals in Perth

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