Lion City tour a boost for local netball
Hong Kong's junior netball squads hope to compete at more international events after gaining much-needed experience during a friendly tour of Singapore recently.
The under-16 and under-18 teams travelled to the Lion City last weekend, the first overseas visit by local youth teams for many years. 'It was a great success,' said coach Jane Lloyd-Evans. 'It is the first for some years and the result of a concerted effort to develop the sport in Hong Kong.'
The girls won just one of their four matches, but were determined to improve and hungry for more international exposure.
'Netball is still developing in Hong Kong but tours like this enable the sport's profile to be raised and give young players something to aspire to. Netball in Singapore is well established with great depth in players, coaches and umpires,' said Lloyd-Evans. For both age groups, the Singapore visit provided their first taste of competitive action.
'They had a gruelling schedule of four matches on Saturday and Sunday morning,' said Lloyd-Evans. 'It was their first experience of playing full one-hour games outdoors, and under the merciless Singapore sun. Many of the under-16 members played in the older age-group matches to provide some relief for tired and weary legs.'
The girls attended a coaching session conducted by ex-Australian international, Simone McKinnis, who gave them some valuable tips on mental preparation and fitness.
Squads:
U-18 - Jacqueline Law (captain), Bonnie Au (vice-captain), Larissa Rembisz, Rachel Leung, Natalie Lam, Lindsey Paton, Eva Chan, Rosalind Webber.
U-16 - Kara Pickett (captain), Lana Rembisz (vice-captain), Natacha Cuvelier, Sabrina Hinchliffe, Vivian Chiu, Mi Ray Ng, Zara Hannaford, Tania Pickett.
Jane Lloyd-Evans (coach). Karin Cherry (manager).
Tour results: HK U-18 v Raffles College U-18, 17-21; HK U-16 v Raffles College U-16, 19-15; HK U-18/U-16 v Tanjong Katong, 25-33; HK U-18/U-16 v National Junior College U-19, 27-39.
