Wairarapa to play in big match lead-up

Wairarapa's stocks have been boosted leading into their vital regional super league netball match with Hutt Valley 2 at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton tonight.
Confirmation was received yesterday they will be playing the curtain-raiser match to the national league fixture between the Capital Shakers and the Otago Rebels in Wellington next Friday night.
Up against them there will be the Capital Shakers development squad which includes St Matthews Collegiate defender Rosie Mahoney.
Being chosen to play the curtain-raiser to such a high profile match is just reward for a Wairarapa team which has impressed all and sundry with their discipline and level of performance in the inaugural super league series.
They are the only unbeaten side with just three rounds of games to be played and tomorrow night's opponent, Hutt Valley 2, are regarded as the main threat to their title aspirations.
The strength of the Hutt Valley 2 side was amply demonstrated when they squared off against Hutt Valley 1 last weekend. A close game was anticipated but Hutt Valley 2 called the tune from the word go and romped home 62-29.
Wairarapa, on the other hand, had to fight tooth and nail (literally and figuratively) to beat off the challenge off Porirua-based KBJ.
The latter were hell bent on raising the hackles of the Wairarapa players with their physical approach and it was a tactic which almost worked, Wairarapa winning 47-44 after trailing by three goals going into the final quarter.
It has to be in Wairarapa's favour though that KBJ is the only side to have claimed the scalp of Hutt Valley 2 thus far, winning their match by a relatively comfortable 57-51.
Wairarapa player Kelly Sargent has no doubts her team will be fully extended by a Hutt Valley 2 team which will almost certainly be eliminated from title contention should they lose.
She expects them to be more structured and more disciplined than their previous opposition and believes a strong start will be crucial to Wairarapa's chances of success.
"We showed last weekend we can come from behind but in this game we don't want to get into that situation," she said. ":They (Hutt Valley) are likely to keep their composure and make it more difficult to pick up lost ground."
The selection of Cindy Cooper at wing attack is a sign that Wairarapa are keen to play tonight's game at pace.
It will be only her second start of the season and Sargent is obviously placing great faith in her speed and agility.
"Having Cindy there should add a new dimension to our game," Sargent said. "Hopefully we will have an edge in fitness anyway and she will just give us an extra boost in that respect."
Joining Cooper in the starting line-up will be Sargent herself at goal shoot, Abby Hull at goal attack, Emma Foote at centre, Lisa Manihera at wing defence, Sarah Brooking at goal defence and Lisa Butler at goal keep.
The last time Wairarapa played at the Genesis Recreation Centre a crowd of in excess of 300 were in attendance and Wairarapa officials are hopeful that even bigger numbers will turn up for tonight's fixture, which is their last home game..
Coach Sargent is adamant that crowd support could mean all the difference in the end result.
"In a make or break game like this you need every advantage you can get and having the crowd behind you is a definite bonus," she said. "The locals have been great for us so far and we're sure they'll come to the party again."
Manwhile, inter-club netball in Wairarapa will get under way tomorrow at the Colombo road courts in Masterton with the premier one draw seeing defending champions St Matthews Collegiate playing Wairarapa College at 9am, Hiona playing All Blacks at 10.30am, Celtic Marist playing Featherston Black Socks at 12 noon and Greytown Red up against Harcourts Collegiate, also at 12 noon.
Collegiate has to be the team to beat this season. They have six of the Wairarapa super league team in their side?..Kelly Sargent, Lisa Butler, Sarah Brooking, Emma Foote, Carlene Karaitiana and Geraldine Carroll. And they have also gained the services of a quality wing defence from the Hutt in Kim Whiteman.
St Matthews Collegiate are in a rebuilding stage but still have six of last year"s champion team to call on so and appeals as the main challenger to Collegiate.
Featherston Black Sox have picked up a couple of players from the now defunct Souths team of last year and that will help their cause.
Colombo Road will not be the only venue for premier one games as the season progresses. It is intended to utilise the Genesis Recreation Centre on Friday nights and also to play some of the matches in Greytown.