Coach Carter targets future

Waikato's second-tier netball team is all about future development, says coach Rebecca Carter.

Carter, who will lead Waikato in the 10-team Lois Muir Challenge starting this weekend, said the region was disadvantaged because of the amount of top level players away with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic side.

She said this wasn't a new issue and her focus on developing youth would hopefully go some way to bridging the gap.

"That's the good thing about having (Magic player) Eli Shadrock and the Bay of Plenty having (Magic player) Amy Chris-tophers, it's helping their game and helping ours, but it also bridges that gap too," Carter said.

Waikato start their season with games against Otago, Canterbury and Cook Strait this weekend in Auckland.

Carter said she had no expectations from her team and was keeping the game plan as simple as possible.

"We beat the Samoan national side by 22 goals and we just played really simple netball. It's only a short competition, so we're just going to keep doing that," she said.

Each game at a time, and each goal at a time, is her plan.

And after a disappointing national provincial competition, any gains the Waikato side – albeit that this is a separate competition – would be welcomed.

The competition works as a nine-game round-robin culminating in a weekend of games in Palmerston North on April 17-18.

The Waikato team have several players from the national provincial side, and the inclusion of Eli Shadrock – who has trained with the Magic all year – should mean that they have enough experience to be competitive.

WAIKATO SQUAD

Michela Anderson, Stephanie Fowlie, Taylor Kells, Jessica Langman (c), Josie Matuku, Teri Rule, Alix Stevens, Alana Timms, Caitlyn Wakely, Jessie Waitapu (nee Taane), Lynaire Williams, Morgan Morrow, Tennille McDonald, Ngawai Eyles, Rachel Fabling, Natalie Mourits, Alisha van Dyk. Coach: Rebecca Carter. Manager: Sylvia Smith. Physio: Fiona Ryan. Fitness trainer: Raychel Overton.

- © Fairfax NZ News