Forget the Bledisloe, this will be a real battle
Roar Guru By Hayley Byrnes, 20 Sep 2012 Hayley Byrnes is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Australia netball, netball, New Zealand netball
Before I start, this article is about netball. I wonder if you’re even going to bother to read this. I never thought I would dedicate my time to writing about this sport either.
But guess what, a trans-tasman rivalry is a battle none the less, and tomorrow night’s second match will be worth tuning into.
For New Zealand, a country where rugby union is a religion, netball is a close second.
A record crowd of almost 9000 is expected at Auckland’s Vector Arena and what could even be more baffling to some, tickets sold out over a month ago, making it the biggest crowd for a netball match in New Zealand.
New Zealand defeated Australia 54-52 in Melbourne on Sunday giving them a one-nil lead in the three-Test series.
You may have witnessed the memorable battles these past few years. That nail-biting, Tourettes Syndrome inducing Commonwealth Games final that went into double overtime 66-64 sudden death win in the last event of the games.
Of course the Diamonds were not going to cop that, and so they got one back the following year in 2011 breaking Kiwi hearts by defeating the Silver Ferns in a heart attack match to claim their deserved title as World Champions.
Sure there may not be an enigmatic Quade Cooper, or a destroying Ma’a Nonu, but this game is hardly soft. ACL’s and dodgy ankles are a common occurrence in the sport.
Not to mention the pushing and shoving, copping elbows in the face and everyday tendonitis.
And all of this for a next to nothing income. Indeed some of these incredible women might be lucky enough to get a car sponsorship out of it, but they earn thousands of dollars less than their male counterparts.
Just for that sake alone you should tune in tomorrow night. At least for the fourth quarter if nothing else, because that my friend is where the highlights reel starts to happen.
I have witnessed so many memorable sporting battles in all codes, but there is something about the back and forth nature of netball that always causes me heart palpitations and sweats.
My heart starts to beat just a little bit faster when I begin to think about the battles I mentioned earlier.
So watch it. Love it. And for goodness sake, support it!
Not yet sold? Watch this epic Australia and New Zealand final here.
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The Crowd Says (6) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Australia netball, netball, New Zealand netball
September 20th 2012 @ 3:39am
Johnno said | September 20th 2012 @ 3:39am | Report comment
I remember as a kid growing up for sheer tension the netball world cup in OZ in 1990 or 1991. Australia from memory won by 1 goal. Anne Sargent i think was playing or commentating. That was so exciting. The netball this year was good with waikato winning. And Irene Van Dyke what a star in world sport, she is now 40 and still going strong. Aussies vs kiwis in Netball the last 20 years has really been a great rivalry that gets a real following when it is on. But we tend to forget the rivalry netball has and are only reminded of this trans tasman rivalry coz of the football codes dominate. Cricket to when aussies play the black caps always produces something special like the hobart test last year, and richard haddllee in the 1980′s , . We love our trans tasman rivalries I wish the soccer’s and all whites would play more they have had some great battles over the years.
September 20th 2012 @ 6:53am
BigAl said | September 20th 2012 @ 6:53am | Report comment
Agree with all of this, some of the greatest aspects of sport on so many levels can be seen in these contests.
More power to Netball !
September 20th 2012 @ 1:35pm
Will Sinclair said | September 20th 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
“That nail-biting, Tourettes Syndrome inducing Commonwealth Games final that went into double overtime 66-64 sudden death win in the last event of the games.”
One of the most exciting games I have seen – in any sport – ever. Brilliant stuff.
It certainly leaves international rugby league, including the laughable ANZAC Test, for dead.
September 20th 2012 @ 5:15pm
kick to kick said | September 20th 2012 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
New Zealand has to be congratulated in being one of the few countries that regards a women’s team sport as worthy of national fervour and prime time TV ratings. Australia has a huge role because it is only really the NZ/Australia games that elevate netball to that level. To me it’s an oddly designed game, but that’s almost irrelevant because the standard of play, skill and general athleticism are astounding and the even contests between these two supremely skilled teams is sublime sport. Sadly the public passion for it is not replicated in Australia.
September 20th 2012 @ 11:01pm
Steve said | September 20th 2012 @ 11:01pm | Report comment
Yes, although to be fair Australia does have more in the way of distractions.
Admiring NZ for being passionate about Netball is a bit like admiring the birdman of Alcatraz for being really good at staring at cobwebs.
September 21st 2012 @ 5:58am
Tom said | September 21st 2012 @ 5:58am | Report comment
to be honest, I would rather see all our female sporting talent and funding spent on a global sport like womens football, basketball or volleyball.