|
Kiwis
tame ADF
Netballers converge for nationals
 |
|
A
New Zealand Defence Force player gets on the front foot
against the ADF.
|
| |
 |
|
Corporal
Lauren Radcliffe aims high for Air Force during the NSW
Interservice Titles, played in Sydney in the lead-up to
the
nationals.
Photo by CPL Matt Moore
|
| |
 |
|
The
Australian Defence Force team prior to its trans-Tasman
match against New Zealand at HMAS Cerberus.
Photos by AB Gavin Hainsworth
|
By CAPT
Lynne Oldfield
AIR Force netballers converged with more than 200 interservice and
New Zealand counterparts at HMAS Cerberus for the Australian Defence
Force Netball Association’s women’s, mixed and men’s
titles in August.
Teams representing Victoria, New South Wales, South-East Queensland,
North Queensland, Canberra, Northern Territory watched as the New
Zealand Defence Force took on the ADF representative team selected
at the previous year’s carnival. The Kiwis also participated
in the women’s competition.
The carnival opened with a large crowd of netballers, guests and
locals treated to a match between the ADF and NZDF women’s
teams.
The Kiwis were keen to even the score from the ADF’s extremely
successful inaugural tour of New Zealand in 1998. The New Zealand
girls were impressive from the first glance, appearing much taller
and physically stronger than the ADF players.
From the first whistle, the Kiwi’s superior ball skills, court
speed and agility in the air placed extraordinary pressure on the
ADF.
New Zealand came out playing hard and achieved a commanding lead
before the ADF had a chance to find its rhythm – a pattern
the NZ girls repeated in every game of the carnival.
The ADF played the full game with terrific spirit and never gave
in to the unrelenting pressure of the dominant Kiwis. Whilst the
Kiwis won convincingly, the spectators and official guests were
impressed by the level of skill and commitment displayed by both
teams.
The tone was set for the remainder of the week with each state keen
for an opportunity to take on the Kiwis during the national carnival.
The South East Queensland squad arrived at HMAS Cerberus keen to
follow up its clean sweep of last year’s carnival. Unfortunately,
their squad was severely depleted by local unit commitments to current
deployments and exercises.
However, they managed to take out the mixed title by defeating New
South Wales, 48-36 in the grand final.
NSW was undeniably the underdog going into the final, fighting bravely
until half time when the strength, height and accuracy of SE-QLD
proved too much for the desperate NSW defenders.
NSW was the most successful state at this year’s carnival.
All three teams won into the grand final playoffs.
The NSW women’s team was extremely confident, competitive and
focussed towards taking out the 2003 title and met an equally hungry
home team from Victoria in the final.
Both teams had won earlier matches convincingly. Victoria had beaten
NSW in the rounds but NSW was more impressive against the invincible
Kiwis.
The game became a battle of tight defence over all court positions
with immense pressure being applied to the goal shooters of both
teams.
Victoria eventually settled into a routine, racking up a 20-11 victory.
After many years of finishing runners up, this was the Victorian
women’s first taste of the premiership cup.
As always, the combination of speed and physical clashes ensured
the men’s competition was an exciting spectacle. A number of
players doubled up from the mixed final due to a shortage of men.
NSW had a number of experienced players and a strong interchange.
ACT and NT combined to form a formidable opponent considering they
had no opportunity to develop team cohesion. However, the experience
and teamwork of NSW saw them over the line with a convincing 38-21
grand final victory.
Congratulations to the winning teams and the players voted most
valuable for each competition:
- Women
– Private Megan Walker, NQLD
- Men
– Leading Seaman Nick Blencowe, NSW, tied with veteran
Leading Aircraftman Dean Bourke, NQLD
- Mixed
– Aircraftman Preben Kohler, ACT/NT
|
