Kuranui eyes premier netball boilover

Kuranui College have never beaten St Matthew's Collegiate in premier one competition play but the start of the inter-club netball season in Wairarapa tomorrow gives them the chance to rectify that situation.
The two college sides will meet at the Colombo road courts and a closely-contested fixture similar to that which occurred in the semi-finals of the premier one series last year is being widely predicted.
St Matthew's won that match by a small margin before going on to upset Harcourts in the grand final but significant changes to both squads means little should be read into that result when assessing their prospects this weekend.
The only players remaining from last year's championship-winning combination for St Matthew's are Jesse Smith, Jorja Bramley, Lianna Taiapa and Paige Drummond. They do, however,.have a talented newcomer to the school in defender Jayne Kirsten and Tessa Clinton-Baker should also make her presence felt.
Returning to the fold for Kuranui are the Phillips sisters, Te Ata, Chanel and Waimarama, and the Strange sisters, Alana and Tania, and joining them will be Rachel Finlayson, Meg Roberts, Chantelle Gleeson, Jayde Gould and Stephanie Ross.
The other premier one match tomorrow will see Carterton Red taking on Wairarapa College A.
Carterton Red won promotion to the premier league just last Friday night when they edged out Fagan Motors Hot Shots in a match to decide which of them would fill the spot left vacant by the withdrawl of Celtic Marist..Star performers for Carterton Red on that occasion were Keely Limpus, Olivia Geange and Rebecca Buick They will test a Wairarapa College side who will be looking to use their fitness to give them a winning advantage.
Two premier one games will also be played at the Genesis Recreation Centre on Monday night with Salute Greytown playing Harcourts and Gladstone All Blacks up against Sports Arena Carterton.
Greytown are optimistic of a bold showing this season. Goal shoot Rachel Pickering is an interesting acquiition for them from Canterbury and others in their squad are Kelly Martin,Sue Button, Natasha Robinson, Kimberley Te Whare, Teresa Rzoska, Jessica Cosgrove, Sue Brown, Lorraine Maloney and Dawn Bregman.They will front a Harcourts side likely to be spearheaded by old hands Geraldine Carroll, Katie Wyeth and Sarah Brooking and newcomer Astee Karaitiana.
Gladstone All Blacks have lost the services of experienced defender Celia Donaldson because of a finger injury suffered in a lawnmower accident. Regulars for them will include Lisa Manihera Katie Wyeth (nee Anderson), Sally McKay, and Karen Bracewell while Sports Arena Carterton will be led by goal shooter Nelda Day and have gained ex-St Matthews defender Renee McDougall, Anna Stuart, Annaliese Taloa and Rosie Doherty.