NETBALL AROUND THE WORLD: 18 DECEMBER 2009
Northern Ireland overturned the world rankings to take the Nations Cup title for 2009, with a 49-34 win over Scotland in Singapore last weekend. Canada took third place in the competition, with a 53-37 win over Tanzania. Ranked 19th at the start of the competition, Northern Ireland were in devastating form throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated and registering some impressive scores. They are currently ranked 15th. Check out the updated rankings on the IFNA website.
As a result of their participation in the competition, Tanzania received a welcome boost for their international exposure with an invitation for an overseas training tour to the UK in April 2010. The Taifa Queens will play a series of matches in Manchester and Scotland.
Jamaica Netball Association’s 2009-10 season started this week with the traditional Jo Wigman Rally, held in Kingston. 68 teams, including four new sides, will take part in this year’s competitions and aim to wrest the rally title from Waulgrovians 'A' and league title from Jamalco.
In Brunei, more than 100 players took part in a special tournament this week to raise money for the Indonesia Earthquake and Philippine Typhoon Humanitarian Fund. Organised by the country’s Youth and Sport Department, the competition also aimed to encourage more physical activity, and participation in the game, among Brunei’s women and girls. Following the competition, a coaching clinic was held for players aged 12 and under, to assist in the development of basic skills, as part of a programme leading up to the 2014 Mini Asian School Games, which Brunei will host.
The UK’s Co-operative Netball Superleague is now under way, with new side Surrey Storm and former champions Mavericks tied at the top of the table after two matches. Storm blew Team Northumbria away 70-16, before travelling to the North West to defeat Northern Thunder 35-50. Mavericks beat Celtic Dragons 62-28, and overcame a spirited challenge from Leeds Carnegie 54-31.
Congratulations to former Silver Ferns shooter Daneka Wipiti, who this week gave birth to her first child, daughter Kilani Mae, this week. Wipiti is expected to return for pre-season training with the Southern Steel after the festive break, and is aiming to return to competitive netball for the start of the ANZ Championships.
Contiki Holidays has been named as title sponsor for the second year of Netball Singapore’s Beach Netball festival. The competition, to take place on Sentosa Beach in March, will feature womens’ and mixed teams aged 18-35, in line with Contiki’s holidaymaker profile.
Finally, GKs across the world breathed a sigh of relief this week after it was announced that, for now at least, the world’s tallest teenager has switched from netball to basketball. Jamaican U16 star Marvadene Anderson, just under 6ft 11” tall and still growing, has taken up a place at Rutgers Prep High School in New Jersey USA on a basketball scholarship, but has not ruled out a return to netball at some stage in her career.