Positive signs as numbers increase

Whangarei Netball Centre anticipates a bumper season in 2011, with an increase in numbers across the grades.
President Judy Macdonald was excited about the season, which gets under way tomorrow with round one of grading, and said the jump in numbers was a positive thing for the sport in Northland.
"We are up on numbers from last year and we have around eight extra senior teams and 17 or 18 intermediate teams entered in the competition," Macdonald said.
"It's definitely positive for netball - it creates extra revenue, provides extra range of competition and an all round better competition."
Whangarei Netball Centre have also introduced a new rule this year which helps to promote a more competitive premier grade.
"The new rule restricts teams entering automatically into premier grade ... it means new teams wanting to play, have to start in premier reserve grade and earn their place in the top grade."
There are the six teams from last year who will contest the premier reserve grade, along with two extra new teams. Meanwhile there are seven teams in premier grade, with one spot to be filled. Who fills this spot will be confirmed after two weeks of grading.
Onerahi 2 and BBC Waipu will challenge the bottom three premier teams - Takahiwai 1, Fideliter 1 and Fideliter 2 for that spot during games tomorrow and next Saturday, with each team playing each other once.
In the meantime, the top four teams in Premier grade (determined after last season) - Whangarei Girls' High School 1, Onerahi 1, Whangarei Old Boys and Manawanui will play a round robin during the two grading rounds. Macdonald said it would be a difficult task to predict which team was likely to get promoted into premier grade.
"There have been lots of changes to teams this year - and a lot of player movement - with players leaving school, and transferring to other clubs or moving away. The team lists look very different to other years and until you see the teams on the court, it's hard to say who will do well," Macdonald said.
While senior and intermediate round one of grading games get under way tomorrow at Whangarei Netball Courts from noon, the junior competition does not start until April 16.