Marist Combined frustrated by youthful Fideliter outfit

There was exasperation all round following the game between Marist Combined and Fideliter Development at Kamo High School.
Top-ranked Marist Combined faced a serious challenge from the under-21 Fideliter side, ranked eighth heading into week two of Whangarei Netball's championship round.
At three-quarter time, Marist Combined had a one goal lead on Fideliter Development and only just pulled ahead in the fourth quarter to secure a 44-36 victory.
Marist coach Eve Barton arrived at Kamo High after the game to greet an "exasperated" Combined team who were flustered at how difficult the game had become, she said.
Barton was forced to choose between watching the Combined team play at Kamo, or the other team she coaches, Marist 1 play Manawanui at Kensington Stadium at the same time on Friday night.
"The committee (Whangarei Netball committee) did not give Marist any dispensation even though I had approached the other teams and they were prepared to swap the game times so I could be at both games," she said.
"There's no other coach in the competition who takes two teams - and the only reason I take two is because there's no coaches out there - it was quite annoying they wouldn't swap the teams and it's the same next week, the times clash."
Barton said Marist Combined team were disadvantaged because she was not present to help with some of the umpiring decisions thrown their way.
"The girls struggled with some of the umpire's interpretation - they have taken on the ANZ Championships umpiring format this year, and the girls didn't understand some of the decisions.
"If I had been there, I could have helped with some of the calls - I just said to the girls to learn from the experience."
The committee claimed Barton was too late in applying for dispensation, but Barton saw the claims as a bit of a smokescreen.
"Surely they want teams to win on a level playing field," she said.
The incident brought up the coaching shortage issue for Barton who had retired from coaching but took it up again two years ago when Marist were desperate for a coach.
"The lack of coaches in Northland has been a problem for many years," she said.
"We have to find a few people passionate about the game and get them to try and encourage others to be passionate - other than that I'm not sure what an be done to fix the problem, it's a dilemma."
When people saw coaches battling with the committee about issues such as game time changes, it was discouraging to potential coaches out there, she said.
"I would think the committee would try and be as amenable to coaches to get them to stay in the game."
Meanwhile Barton's Marist 1 side won after a tussle with Manawanui, who Barton complimented on their determined defence.
"Jess Lowe [wing attack] showed a nice touch on attack ... but it was a very good team effort from Marist 1 - they are coming together nicely," she said.
Whangarei Girls High were impressive once again - their youth, speed and adaptability coming to the fore - when they defeated Fideliter 1 46-43 for the second time this season, stamping their mark on this competition.
Takahiwai struggled against a solid Whangarei Old Boys who won convincingly 61-34.