Nelson’s Saxton Stadium is hosting the next generation of Silver Ferns this week as the New Zealand Under-19 Netball Championships kick into action.
More than 500 people are expected to converge on the event which began yesterday.
Tasman is one of 18 teams competing, with the final to be played on Thursday at 3pm.
All of Saxton Stadium’s five courts will be in action across four days.
Nelson Netball Centre manager Chelsea Routhan says it is a chance for netball fans in the region, as well as young, aspiring players, to get a glimpse of New Zealand’s best emerging netball talent.
Tasman find themselves in a challenging pool alongside Hutt Valley, Hamilton City, Pukekohe and Waitakere City.
Tasman coach Robyn Leonard said the team was aiming to earn a couple of pool victories and finish mid-pack.
“This is a tough age-group for us as a number of our players leave the region to continue study.”
Robyn says, defensively her team is strong, with Holly Chandler patrolling the defensive circle.
With a lack of shooting depth, Tasman has called in South Canterbury’s Amber Horne to bolster the attack-end. Tasman lost their first match on Monday to Waitakere 51-12.
The school holidays will be a busy period for age group tournaments in the region, with Nelson also hosting the New Zealand Basketball Under-19 tournament next week and the secondary school tournament week fast approaching at the end of next month.
Sport Tasman chief executive Nigel Muir says tournaments like this can easily generate millions of dollars for the Nelson community.
“Each player often brings one to two extra people with them, whether that’s parents or grandparents,” he says. “They all need to eat, stay somewhere and do other activities to fill in their days here.”
Nigel says, with nine out of 10 people involved in some sort of active pursuit and one in three volunteering their time to help with a sport or activity, sport is a big part of the Nelson economy.
