Parata moves swiftly to stamp her command

BY PENNY MILES

Newly appointed NPC coach Gail Parata has displayed unflinching command by dropping Pulse defender Katie King from the Wellington team.

King was outplayed at trials on Sunday by rookie PIC 1 defender Rosie Mahoney, 21, who is the only new cap named.

"In the defensive end going into the final trials it was either one or the other," Parata said.

But the coach felt sympathy for King, who has endured a tough year.

King began the ANZ Championship season wearing a moon boot because of a stress fracture and did not play a game for the Pulse. "A lot of us have seen her [King] play some really good netball in past years, but this year was a bit of a quiet one for her, and she admitted that to us yesterday."

Mahoney returns from the netball wilderness after working for a bungy jumping company in Queenstown for the past two years.

She is a former Wellington age-group player who hailed from Masterton and played for the Wellington East club before shifting south.

Despite Parata being impressed, Mahoney did not believe she had a chance.

"There are quite a few good defenders out there so I knew it would be a massive challenge.

"It will be the whole experience of playing alongside the Pulse team and being coached by Gail. I'm very excited, and a little nervous."

PIC 1 defender Gene Solia also made her mark. The younger sister of Magic midcourter Frances, Solia played a strong season in the Lois Muir Challenge for Cook Strait.

Wellington's defence has been boosted by former Canterbury defender Bessie Manu, while Cushla Lichtwark's selection was never in doubt.

The Wellington East midcourter joins Pulse duo Neesha Weiser and Ngamara Milner-Olsen and PIC 1's Daya Pritchard.

Pulse shooters Te Amo Amaru-Tibble and Jamilah Gupwell will combine with Nardia Roselli and St Mary's Old Girls' sole representative, Rebecca Jury.

"Rebecca Jury is someone that we all believe has a lot of talent," Parata said.

PIC 1's Melaia Lousi went close to selection, while St Mary's Old Girls' shooter Jaimee Sorenson and Naenae 1's Sacha Coogan have been dropped.

Wellington's pre-season will include a match against the World Team at Te Rauparaha Arena in preparation for their three-test series against the Silver Ferns.

The national championships will be contested in Invercargill in October, with home and away rounds in September.

THE SQUADS

Wellington: Te Amo Amaru-Tibble (PIC 2), Jamilah Gupwell (Pulse), Rebecca Jury (SMOG), Nardia Roselli (Wgtn East), Ngamara Milner-Olsen (PIC 1), Daya Pritchard (PIC 1), Neesha Weiser (PIC 2), Stacey McFeeters (Wgtn East), Bessie Manu (PIC 1), Gene Solia (PIC 1), Rosie Mahoney (PIC 1) Cushla Lichtwark (Wgtn East). Gail Parata (coach).

Wellington 2: Jessica Grinlinton (Maidstone United), Charlene McKay (Wgtn East), Rose Paino (SMOG), Claudia Henison (PIC 1), Melaia Lousi (PIC 1), Brooke Cutting (SMOG), Emma Weenink (Wgtn Girls'), Lisa Scott (SMOG), Kelly Griffin (SMOG), Gina Crampton (Wgtn Girls'), Amanda Ryan (Wgtn East), Stephanie Simmons (Naenae 1). Barbara Webster (coach).

- © Fairfax NZ News