Saturday morning and an 8.30am kick-off – that can only mean ONE thing – it’s time for the Southerners South East Asian Netball Invitational!
As the masses of netball girls turned up at the NIST courts from all corners of Southeast Asia – including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam – it was time for all to get a little more serious and prepare for a full day of netball. Team tactics were whispered, kits were put on, socks pulled up and it was time for some serious action to get the day started!
Nothing was taken for granted as all first round teams hit the court determined to get their first win under their belt – some successful and others determined to improve in their second. Both Southerners Black & Southerners White fought hard on court – both teams were up against some pretty tough competition and fast play so it was certainly necessary to consider thought out tactics and strategies to get through each of the 20minute games.
Off court the constant chatter by all was directed at this years ‘level of play’ as well as the consistency and high standard of defenders that every team seemed to benefit from.
Having played all our round robin games Southerners Black were unfortunately ‘pipped to the post’ by Saigon Shooters and a 1 point difference knocked us out of the quarter-finals to place 5th overall. Southerners White playing as a strong team unit, working hard and fighting for their 9th position.
All teams showed great sportsmanship on and off the court, with NZCC Atua Singapore taking home the award for the Southerners invitational Sportsmanship Team for 2012.
Congratulations to Hong Kong Cricket Club who can be proud of their winning performance and taking home the trophy!
If a day of netball wasn’t quite enough to get everyone excited about the tournament weekend – then the after-party most definitely was with 130 netballers – plus all of our fabulous Southerners ‘supporters’ – heading on down to No Idea Café & Gastropub for what turned out to be a very entertaining and ‘WACKY’ evening! The theme for the evening saw all teams dressed in their ‘Wackiest Headwear’ – in between the table-dancing flamingos, Cowboys & Indians, Brazilian Beauties, gangsters and more – the night was a great hit!
At the end of the day – the band kept everyone entertained and up on the dance floor till early hours, the B52’s got the tournament ‘best & fairest’ players excited, the lads were amazed to see so many lovely ladies in one confined space, the wacky headwear was a hit and everyone is counting down until this time next year!!
Southerners are already looking forward to seeing everyone in a years time!
Written by: Lucy Travers & Dana Piggott
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