Extra spice has been added to the Netball Wairarapa premier one grand final match between Harcourts and St Matthew's Collegiate at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton on Saturday evening.
The two teams met in the first of the semi-final playoffs last weekend with Harcourts winning by three goals and then
filing a complaint against one of the referees.
Questioned by the Times-Age, Harcourts coach Geraldine Carroll said the complaint arose because of the constant problems her players had in understanding the rulings of the official concerned.
"As coach you listen to the players and if you feel what they are saying warrants a complaint then you do it," Carroll said.
"We felt it was necessary and so it was done"
Carroll was at pains to emphasise, however, that the situation was a one-off and was "very definitely" not meant to be a slur on referees in general.
"We are very grateful to those who give their time to refereeing because they are such a vital sport of the sport," she said.
"And I personally was taught very early on to never back chat referees & they deserve more respect than that."
Carroll said talk about unbeaten Harcourts being "over physical" in their approach during their latest premier one campaign was nothing new.
"We hear that a lot but it doesn't worry us," she said. "The facts are that netball is now a physical game and if you are prepared to go for the ball hard then your body goes with you, doesn't it?" she said "And we're not the only team which plays that way, plenty of others do as well."
Carroll is adamant though that Harcourts won't be resting on their laurels in the grand final.
"Just because we haven't been beaten this seasons means nothing, it's all down to the one game now and we can't take anything for granted," she said. "Obviously we believe we can win but we know it won't be easy."
