Locals get chance against best

Locals get chance against best at Netball World Championships

Aucklanders Ritua Petero and Angela Tangimetua will lead a new-look Cook Islands team at the 2007 New World Netball World Championships in Waitakere next month.

Petero, a dynamic midcourter for the Northern Force, finalists in this year’s National Bank Cup, and Tangimetua, once crowned the most accurate shooter in the world, will co-captain the side.

Cook Islands coach, former Silver Ferns captain Ana Noovao, has selected a fresh 12 after a final trial in New Zealand last weekend.

It is a totally new team from the Cook Islands side which finished a disappointing 11th at the 2003 world championships in Jamaica.  Most of the 2007 team live in New Zealand.

Petero, from Manurewa, made her international debut for the Cooks at the 1999 world championships in Christchurch, and has since played national league netball for the Cometz and the Force.

Tangimetua, better known in netball circles as Angela Maoate, is a world championship veteran – the goal shoot was the top shooter at the 1995 world champs in Birmingham. Now living in Auckland, she also played three seasons in New Zealand’s national league – 1998 and 2002 with the Auckland Diamonds, and 2003 with the Cometz.

Also in the Cook Islands team are Wellington netballers Paula Te Huna, Anna Andrews, Celeste Brunton and Darcel Daniels. Te Huna’s sister Patti, a member of the North Harbour performance programme, has also made the squad.

Versatile young shooter-midcourter Jacqueline Tate plays for North, finalists in the recent Scottwood Trust national netball championships.

Cook Island-based player Sheena Tavioni has moved to New Zealand for the final build-up to the November 10-17 championships at the Trusts Stadium.

Petero says the team will have another training camp before coming together for the championships.

“There’s a really nice feeling in this team; it’s a really good team,” she says.  “One of our main goals is to go through to the quarterfinals - at least.”

The Cook Islands’ best placing at a world championship was fifth at the 1991 tournament in Sydney.  

The Cook Islands team is:   Ritua Petero (co-captain), Angela Tangimetua (co-captain), Claresta Andrew, Anna Andrews, Celeste Brunton, Darcel Daniels, Kiri Kaumoana, Margarette Nena, Jacqueline Tate, Sheena Tavioni, Patti Te Huna, Paula Te Huna.

Tickets for the New Woeld Netball World Championships at The Trusts Stadiu, Waitakere from 10-17 November available from www.worldnetballchamps.com

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