Netball: Koren's sporting pedigree tough to live up to

By Suzanne McFadden

It was genetic destiny that Koren Pickard would become a good netballer.

Pickard, a defender for the Cometz in the Coca-Cola Cup national league which starts tomorrow night, has family ties to New Zealand sports' big four - rugby, cricket, league and netball.

Her father, Rick Pickard, is a New Zealand cricket selector and a director of the Cometz franchise.

Her grandfather, Cyril Eastlake, was one of the great New Zealand rugby league internationals. He starred in 28 tests for the Kiwis through the 1950s, playing in four different backline positions.

Eastlake, who turns 70 in the new millennium, was captain of the New Zealand league team and still holds the New Zealand record for points scored on a tour.

Her cousin is Frano Botica, former All Black and Kiwi league kicking machine, and her great-great uncle, George Nicholson, played for the 1905 All Blacks. To top it all off, her godfather is the prince of All Black centres, Bruce Robertson.

"I guess I have had a lot to live up to," Koren Pickard laughed. "Especially with my grandfather. Now it's my turn to try to break into the next level, like they did."

Pickard said she got a lot of advice from Eastlake and Robertson, who lives nearby, and all her mentors are at the Cometz home games at Papatoetoe. They will be on the sideline tomorrow night when the Cometz meet last year's champions, the Otago Rebels, in their opening game.

Twenty-year-old Pickard, who is training to be a physed teacher, was one of the finds of last year's fledgling league.

The Cometz, a franchise covering Counties, Manukau and Thames Valley, have changed significantly from last year's line-up, retaining only four players.

"Most of the new players have returned home - we're drawing people back now," Pickard said.

Among their gains is former Silver Fern centre Temepara George, who grew up in Manukau and will captain the side.

The Cometz are charged up for the start of the competition after playing four of the league sides in warm-up games and beating them.