Martinborough Netball Club

Indeed while this year is almost over and this article slightly late, just to let you know what the season has been like for the Martinborough Netball Club.

The Netball Premier Team moved up a grade this netball season from previous years having played in the Premier 2 grade. We only had one team enter into the Netball Wairarapa Competition 2017 playing in the Premier Reserve Grade. New players, new team, new combinations and new uniforms.

It had been and up and down season for the Netball Team this year playing in the earlier rounds of the Premier Reserve Grade but some great skills on display on court, but always room for improvement in any sporting code. Mix of wins and games lost through the rounds, but the team soldiered on. At the business end of the competition the team made the finals again this year for the fourth time in a row (having won 3 in Premier 2 grade) although not the results we wanted this year, but a great way to finish the season making finals and hopefully we can go further next year.

Premier Reserve Team/Committee Members: Heather McLachlan (Captain), Casey Teofilo, Marta Wojcikowski, Kim Marshall, Erina Wood, Tarena Roach, Jade Kiel, Muriel Hata, Melody McEwen, Sandra Sherwood, Tabitha Spicer, Danielle Thompson (Floss), Tiny Strange (Coach) and Tai Pirato (Coach/Player Support), Emma Warrington, Natalie Golding, Tom TeKani

Netball Awards for 2017:
Best Defense Player – Melody McEwen
Best Attacking Player – Erina Wood
Most Improved Player – Marta Wojcikowski
Teofilo Mikaera Cup for Contribution to Netball – Tarena Roach

Other Netball news this year – two of our very own locals Tai Pirato and Tom Te Kani took part in the annual NZ Men’s Netball Nationals Tournament in Invercargill in September. With men’s netball teams from all over NZ participating and Australia. Tai and Tom represented Cook Strait Men’s & Mixed Netball Association (CSMMNA) that is based in Wellington of which Tai is the Co-Founder, having set it up in 2012.

While Tai has been part of the NZ Men’s Netball Nationals level over the years as a player, he is also a current NZ Netball Umpire. Umpiring at National age groups tournaments this year, Wellington, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa netball centre competitions. So we very are lucky to have one of our own representing New Zealand officiating top level netball games.

Tom of course played for Martinborough Rugby Club Senior Reserves team this year, so it being his very first tournament playing men’s netball, he certainly enjoyed the trainings (at times) and learnings of Men’s netball. Hopefully we may see a few more local guys keen to play, so watch this space.

Special mention must go to: Trust House Pukemanu Tavern BLK John Kirkup and Martinborough Tennis Club Committee (netball turf court facilities) but to everyone, partners, friends, families, locals that had supported the netball club this year a very big thank you to all of you.

On behalf of all our members from the Martinborough Netball Club 2017 we would like to wish you all a safe and enjoyable festive season and best wishes into the New Year 2018.