Tears as Manawatu triumphs
27 September 2004
By ANDREW STILL

Photo taken by : Warwick Smith

The significance of Manawatu winning the national second division final at Arena Manawatu on Saturday night was best summed up by goal keep Leisa Norris-Spring.


The 32-year-old former New Zealand academy player has experienced her share of ups and downs playing for the Flyers in the national league.

Beating Canterbury B 42-40 in front of a jubilant home crowd was her most emotional experience to date on the netball court.

I have never felt like crying at the end of a game. But I had tears in my eyes when the final whistle went."

Norri-Spring had good reason to feel moved after Manawatu exceeded all expectations just making the final.

Half of the team had continued working part-time during the tournament, others in the team were untried teenagers.

Over six days, Manawatu beat Bay of Plenty B, Hutt Valley, Auckland-Waitakere 2, Wellington B and North Maroon.

The foundations for its win over Canterbury B was laid at the back by Norris-Spring and co-captain, Joanna Andrew.

Once again they made life difficult for the opposition shooters and collected numerous rebounds and intercepts.

The fact they conceded fewer goals in the final than the side which won the trophy for the best defensive record sums it up best.

With them winning the battle at the back, it was left to centre Angela Armstrong-Lush to lead the way in the mid-court.

Arsmtrong-Lush and wing attack Kylee Webb got the better of Canterbury B wing defence Dana Bond, who was later named the second division player of the tournament.

In Manawatu's shooting circle, 14-year-old goal attack Sam Durie-Aranga again showed her big match temperament by slotting most of the goals in the second half.

By that stage, goal shoot Kelly Butler was playing a supporting role as she again struggled with a painful back injury.

The match panned out to be a classic, with fortunes fluctuating as Manawatu led 9-8 after the first quarter, only to be pipped 19-18 by halftime.

Manawatu cleared out to 29-22 midway through the third quarter, before Canterbury B pulled it back to 33-all early in the fourth.

But with Durie-Aranga remaining calm under the increasing pressure, the Canterbury B shooters were the first to crack in the dying minutes.

Canterbury B still had the chance to tie the game in the final minute, but replacement Manawatu wing defence Chloe Marsh grabbed a vital intercept which Durie-Aranga finished off as the final whistle sounded.