NETBALL - 2009 National Netball Championships

Last year, the Northern Mystics had the team to beat on paper but they failed to produce the results in the inaugural ANZ Netball Championships.
However, after four months of pre-season training, Northland product Cathrine Latu believed the girls would be able to deliver the goods this season, which gets underway for the Mystics when they face Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic on Monday at Trusts Stadium in Auckland.
"Last year we didn't prove ourselves on the court," she said.
"We have had a three-month head start training on last year and have spent a lot of time together - so I think we will go much better this season."
After the extra pre-season training, Latu felt the girls were sharper than last year and ready to improve on their seventh placing in the 2008 competition.
The Mystics face a tough-ask with an initial hit-out against the Magic, runners-up in last year's competition, who the Northern outfit went down to 53-37 in their pre-season tournament final at Waikato recently.
For Latu, the new season signified a chance to prove she deserved the trans-Tasman Netball League's recent special dispensation granted to the Mystics this year, following the International Netball Federation's ruling to decline an application for the shooter to switch allegiance from Samoa, who she represented at the 2007 World Champs, to New Zealand.
Born in Auckland, raised in Kakakawa, attending the local primary school and Bay of Islands College before moving to West Auckland, Latu said she wanted to prove to the international federation she should be allowed the dispensation.
The favourable decision came as great relief not only for the shooter but for the Mystics, with Latu playing an invaluable part in the team last year, averaging 24.3 goals per game during the 2008 ANZ Championships.
"I'm just glad they finally made a decision ... it means I can move on with training, knowing I am in the team," Latu said.
Although Latu was keen to be back in the mix, she was disappointed about being stood down for international competition, she said.
"New Zealand is my country of birth and it's where I grew up - I want to play for New Zealand," she said.
However, her focus now was on the transtasman competition, working with the Mystics to reach their goal of making the top four this year.
Northland claimed two other Mystics players this season, defender Stephanie Bond who was born and raised in Dargaville and who's brother Peter currently plays rugby for the Western Sharks, along with shooter Jade Topia who's mother Gilly resides in Ngawha and her father Gerard lives near Kaitaia.
The girls were staunchly proud of their Northland roots, and enjoyed a Mystics training camp at Kensington Stadium recently.
"It's always good to take something back home ... because that's where we are from and it meant a lot to the girls," Latu said.
New additions to the Mystics for 2009 are Debbie White from the Southern Steel, and Finau Pulu, Pamela Cookey and Keshia Grant of the Magic, while they lost Leana de Bruin to the Magic, Paula Griffin to the Central Pulse, Sheryl Scanlan to the Steel, and Angela Yates.
The 2009 competition is shaping up to be stronger and tougher this year, with all teams on both sides of the Tasman having more preparation time behind them, along with knowing what to expect in the championships.
The Mystics face the Magic on Monday at 7pm, at Trusts Stadium in West Auckland, while the Southern Steel and Central Pulse start the round off at Invercargill today.
* Draw:
Round 1: April 6, 7pm, Mystics v Magic, Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Round 2: April 12, 6.30pm, Mystics v Pulse, North Shore Events Centre, Auckland
Round 3: April 20, 5pm, Fever v Mystics, Challenge Stadium, Perth
Round 4: April 27, 7pm, Swifts v Mystics, Olympic Park, Sydney
Round 5: May 4, 7pm, Pulse v Mystics, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Round 6: May 11, 7pm, Mystics v Steel, Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Round 7: May 18, 7pm, Magic v Mystics, Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
Round 8: BYE
Round 9: June 1, 7pm, Mystics v Tactix, Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Round 10: June 6, 1.30pm, Thunderbirds v Mystics, Distinctive Homes Dome, Adelaide
Round 11: June 15, 7pm, Steel v Mystics, Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Round 12: June 20, 2pm, Mystics v Vixens, Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Round 13: June 27, Mystics v Firebirds, Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Round 14: July 6, Tactix v Mystics, Westpac Arena, Christchurch
Semifinals: July 11-13
Preliminary Finals: July 19-20
Grand Final: July 27
Caption: PRIMED: Northern Mystics player Vilimaina Davu signs autographs after a team training camp at Kensington Stadium in February.CHRIS RUDSDALEMYSTICAL: Back row (left to right): Debbie White (WD/C/GD), Cathrine Latu (GS/GK); Second row (left to right): Keshia Grant (WA/C), Rawinia Everitt (WD/C), Temepara George (C/WA/WD), Vilimaina Davu (GK), Grace Rasmussen (GA/WA); Front row (left to right): Jade Topia GA/GS, Stephanie Bond (GD/WD), Rachel Rasmussen (GK/GD), Finau Pulu (GD/WD/GK/C).