March 03, 2017
Matariki netball stars for south Auckland
Netball’s newest Premiership franchise has its first outing this weekend.
The South Auckland-based Matariki Northern Stars will play the Northern Mystics in Whangarei on Saturday.
That will pit Silver Fern all-rounder Kayla Cullen against her former team, with other stars in the line up including shooter Maia Wilson and defender Leana de Bruin.
Coach is Australian Julie Hoornweg, who steered the Melbourne Vixens to TransTasman league victory in 2008.
Former Silver Fern and Manurewa MP Louisa Wall, who is on the board of the new franchise, says it’s a great opportunity for young netballers in the region.
"It really came about because the TransTasman competition is no more. It created a good opportunity from Netball New Zealand's perspective to create a new team. This will be a direct pathway ensuring talent from south Auckland is able to play netball at the highest level," she says.
The club will also have a feeder team in the next level competition down called the Comets, reviving an old south Auckland name.
Home games will be played at the Vodafone Pasifika Events Centre in Manukau.
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