Netball: Extra round added to National Bank Cup

Netball New Zealand (NNZ) today confirmed an extra round would be added the National Bank Cup from 2007.

But before the double round is added to the eight-team competition, NNZ chief executive Shelley McMeeken said in a statement an extended play-off series between the top four teams would be introduced next year.

McMeeken said NNZ decided to extend the competition over two phases to provide more quality netball before the double round takes effect in two years time.

The extended play-off series next year will take place after the round robin and lengthens the competition from 10 weeks to 12 weeks.

McMeeken told Radio Sport said the extra play-off series before the semifinals rewarded those teams playing the most consistent netball, and it gave the top teams an opportunity to each other again.

McMeeken said they decided to delay introducing the full double round until 2007 because the franchises still had to work through various administrative and sponsorship issues.

"This gives the franchises a year and a half to work those issues out," McMeeken said.

Specifics about the NBC double round would be finalised over the next few months, with all details available by October 2005.

In order to secure venues for next year, dates for the 2006 competition will be available to franchises in June.

Today's announcement was the biggest change to the competition since its introduction in 1998.

NNZ bosses said earlier this month they had been looking at adding extra games to netball's premier domestic showpiece for over a year in order to increase exposure.

- NZPA