SMOG's coach has priorities sorted

St Mary's Old Girls' coach Marianne Delaney gave birth to her first child last week but won't let the new addition to her family distract from a pivotal match today.

Delaney missed SMOG 1's game last week but will be on the Hataitai court sidelines today when SMOG meet defending club champions Wellington East 1.

East and SMOG won their first round games last week by convincing margins but a close match is expected today.

SMOG are stacked with young talent, while East are a who's who of Wellington rep teams.

Delaney, who coached Wellington Under-21s last year, is in charge at SMOG for the first time and has attracted players with credentials from Otago, Auckland and Hutt Valley. The capable attacking side won a tournament in Wanganui in the pre-season and could be a chance for an upset.

"We're young and we've got nothing to lose," Delaney said. "We'll expect some rugged defence from East. They're highly experienced and have some players in their 30s."

For SMOG, players to watch include shooters Rebecca Jury and Jaimee Sorenson. Silver Fern Paula Griffin's younger sister, Kelly, joins SMOG in the midcourt. Other attacking options include Samoan age-group player Sania To'o.

East have experience in former Shaker Jo Haanstra, Nardia Roselli and Charlene McKay. East's coach Natasha Bergin said her side would be wary of SMOG. Cook Strait midcourter Conal Grant is unavailable for East today. Wellington East 1:Liz Donoghue, Conal Grant, Jo Haanstra, Bronwyn Kelly, Charlene McKay, Helen Markham, Stacey McFeeters, Nardia Roselli, Amanda Ryan, Florence Tauli, Natasha Bergin (coach).

SMOG 1: Rosa Friend, Brooke Cutting, Rose Paino, Georgia McLaren, Bronwyn Sproule, Lisa Scott, Kelly Griffin, Sanita To'o, Jaimee Sorenson, Rebecca Jury, Anna Moriarty. Marianne Delaney (coach).

9.30am: Wellington Girls v PIC 2, 11.15am: Wgtn East 2 v PIC 1, 1pm: Wgtn East 1 v SMOG 1, Bye: SMOG 2.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First