Netball Wairarapa have officially expressed their dissatisfaction at the lack of home games given Harcourts in this season's regional superleague competition.
Centre manager Kim Whiteman confirmed today they had written to the organisers, voicing concern the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton had been the venue for just four matches when at
least six could have been expected.
"We certainly understand why they (Harcourts) were frustrated with the draw they were given and we have been very supportive of them in that regard," Whiteman said.
"What happened wasn't good enough.".
Whiteman said there were a number of reasons why any Wairarapa team contesting the superleague against the top sides from the Wellington and the Hutt Valley areas should be treated fairly on the question of match allocation.
These included the time spent travelling to and from matches played on the other side of the Rimutakas and the advantage of having home crowd support.
"The crowds here are as big ,and probably bigger,than they are anywhere and teams tend to thrive on that sort of thing," she said.
Whiteman noted the initial response from the organisers to her centre's letter was "reasonably receptive" but they would be raising the matter again at a debrief likely to be held within the next fortnight or so.
"We won't be letting it go, we will definitely be expecting something better next year," she said, adding that the Harcourts effort to earn promotion to division one should help the Wairarapa cause. "It certainly gives strength to our position," she said.
Whiteman also revealed Netball Wairarapa would be holding a meeting of all current premier one clubs within their bounds to discuss the 2010 superleague series.
With several of their current squad unlikely to be available then Harcourts will probably not field a side on their own account and , that being the case, the prospects are Wairarapa will be represented by a composite side consisting of players from most, if not all, premier one clubs.
"We need to know what sort of enthusiasm there is amongst the players to compete in the superleague and also when to plan trials and start looking for people able and willing to coach and select the side," Whiteman said.
