Coach expects PIC to get physical

Wairarapa coach Kelly Sargent isn't kidding herself over the task facing her team in their regional superleague netball match with PIC at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton tomorrow night
One of the top club sides in Wellington over a long number of years, PIC were on the end of a shock 46-45 beating in their opening game against Hutt Valley's Convent Old Girls last weekend.
A result which was in direct contrast to that achieved by Wairarapa which upset Kapi Mana champions, Norths, 50-45.
Sargent believes their loss will actually inspire PIC, who won the superleague title last year, to produce something like their best form in Masterton.
"They aren't the sort of side who will accept a loss easily, they'll be dead keen to set the record straight against us," she said. "They won't want to lose to a team from the sticks, that's for real"
As befits a team usually containing a number of Pacfic Islanders, PIC has a reputation for flair and Sargent is anticipating nothing different on this occasion. She expects them to play at pace and to be rather unorthdox in their attacking ploys and knows the dangers of Wairarapa trying to play them at their own game.
"Maintaining a structure is important, the best way to combat them is to do the basics well," she said. "If we try to be as inventive as them we'll just get ourselves into trouble".
Sargent believes it vital too that Wairarapa do not allow PIC to outmuscle them in a physical sense, and she is heartened by the fact her side contains a number of players who don't mind mixing it in that respect.
"The amount of contact at this level tends to be greater than what we get in our own club competitions but I can't see that being too much of a problem, we'll give as good as we get there," she said.
With Emma Foote and Jesse Smith unavailable and Casey Pederson consigned to the subs bench because she was unable to attend Tuesday night's training session, Sargent has been forced to make changes to her starting line-up from that which initially took to the court against Norths
On this occasion Hope Phillips will start at goal shoot with Geraldine Carroll at goal attack, Carlene Karaitiana at wing attack, Katie Wyeth at centre, Lisa Manihera at wing defence, Perri Tatana at goal defence and Sarah Brooking at goal keeper.
Sargent is optimistic the changes won't have a negative effect on the team's performance, as much because of the stiff competition for places in the starting line-up as anything else.
"The players know they have to perform well or risk the possibility of losing their place and that's the sort of situation you want," she said. "Nobody can rest on their laurels."
While delighted with the win over Norths, Sargent said the Wairarapa effort was far from perfect with players sometimes becoming too bunched in attacking situations and passes failing to go to hand because of poor option taking.
"For a first upper it was good but there is plenty of scope of improvement," she said. With tomorrow night's match - which gets underway at 7.30pm - being the first home game of the season for Wairarapa, Sargent is urging local fans to turn up in large numbers to support their side.
"Obviously it boosts the players when a big crowd turns up to support them and this is a match where their involvement could actually make a difference to the end result," she said.