Holiday Parcel Arrival

Introduction

It gives me great pleasure to Blog about the Parcel I received in the post today .

Contends Of The Parcel

Justin Oldham promised to send me a copy of Hearts of Iron 2 . Well not only did I receive of Hearts of Iron 2 in what appeared to be an unopened box I got the following books .

” The Good War ” An Oral History Of World War Two by Studs Terkel

Panzer Commander The Memoirs Of Colonel Hans Von Luck

Tales From The Kodiak Starport by none other then Justin himself .

When I got the parcel back to my Caravan and I opened it all my Christmases had come at once . For sure I was grinning from ear to ear for a long while . Panzer Commander is proving to be a terrific read .

2010 ANZ Championship Squads

Introduction

ANZ Championship Squads and my ten cents is what makes up this entry .

ANZ Championship Squads

Vixens

Tegan Caldwell , Bianca Chatfield , Natasha Chokljat , Renae Hallinan , Kathleen Knott , Sharelle McMahon , Chelsey Nash , Julie Corletto , Caitlin Thwaites , Brooke Thompson , Wendy Jacobsen , Kara Richards

Thunderbirds

Jo Sutton , Emily Beaton , Georgia Beaton , Kate Beveridge , Mo’onia Gerrard , Geva Mentor , Sharni Layton , Carla Borrego , Erin Bell , Jasmine Keene , Sheree Wingard , Natalie von Bertouch

Firebirds

Romelda Aiken , Alissa Castrisos , Natalie Medhurst , Laura Geitz , Keirra Trompf , Amy Steel , Sarah Wall , Clare Mcmeniman , Lauren Nourse , Laura Scherian , Jacqui Russell , Sophie Croft

Swifts

Catherine Cox , Susan Pratley , Vanessa Ware , Kimberlee Green , Coutney Tairi , Kimberly Borger , Rebecca Bulley , Samantha May , Amy Wild , Sonia Mkoloma , Ashleigh Brazill

Fever

Caitlin Bassett , Emma Beckett , Shae Bolton , Madison Browne , Johannah Curran , Leah Shoard , Susan Fuhrmann , Andrea Gilmore , Josie Janz , Janelle Lawson , Sarah Ebbott , Ashleigh Neal

Mystics

Temepara George , Joline Henry , Larrissa Willcox , Maria Tutaia , Cathrine Latu , Althea Byfield , Grace Rasmussen , Jenny-May Coffin , Finau Pulu , Bailey Mes , Kayla Cullen , Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick

Magic

Casey Williams , Irene Van Dyk , Laura Langman , Jodi Tod , Jodi Brown , Jess Tuki , Elias Shadrock , Frances Solia , Kahurangi Waititi , Tanya Lund , Amy Christophers , Peta Scholz

Pulse

Paula Griffin , Jane Altschwager , Te Amo Amaru-Tibble , Jamilah Gupwell , Camilla Lees , Ngarama Milner-Olsen , Daya Pritchard , Alanah Cassidy , Bessie Manu , Cushla Lichtwark , Ama Abgeze

Tactix

Maree Bowden , Anna Thompson , Phillipa Finch , Charlotte Kight , Ellen Halpenny , Anna Galvan , Chelsea Pitman , Ashley Smith , Hayley Crofts , Victoria Smith , Hannah Poff , Peta Stephens

Steel

Daneka Wipiiti , Juliana Naoupu , Wendy Telfer , Liana Barrett Chase , Hayley Saunders , Emma Moynihan , Erika Burgess , Sheryl Scanlan , Leana De Bruin , Te Huinga Selby Rickitt , Jade Topia , Megan Dehn

My Ten Cents

Look up the definition of a class side in the dictionary and you will still find the Vixens as likely Grand Finalists . Having signed Geva Mentor for three years the Thunderbirds ought to once again make the top four . On the other side of the ledger Laura Von von Bertouch is not playing for the Thunderbirds again .

By recruiting Natalie Medhurst the Firebirds should have fixed last years weakness at GA . The mid court area remains the Firebirds Achilles Heal . Hmm I regard the Swifts as being something of an unknown quality . When Catherine Cox plays well she fires on the rest of her team mates . I will watch the Fever with interest because they have retained the core of last years squad which means they haven’t lost any experience . Look for the Fever to be difficult to beat at home .

Now the Mystics did very well in the recruitment stakes providing they don’t choke . Teams have the Magic pretty well figured out . What remains to be seen is just how much a lack of tactical smarts will cost the Magic . The Pulse should have done enough to avoid the wooden spoon , I expect that honour to go to the Tactix who failed big time in the recruitment game .

Debbie White and Rachel Rasmussen are two noticeable absentees from team lists who the Tactix could have recruited. I foresee the Steel being a respectable mid court team along with the Fever . If the Steel pick a few wins across the ditch they might become semi final contenders .

Music Monday Elvis Presley Love Me Tender

I hope the reader enjoys this weeks pick .

National Beach Volleyball Tour Update And ANZ Championship Update

Introduction

I take a brief look at the National Beach Volleyball Tour and the ANZ championship .

National Beach Volleyball Tour

The National Tour may not be a fraud after all . Although it is yet to be confirmed the Tour looks like it will be coming to Christchurch on the 5th – 6th of January .

ANZ Championship Update

Jade Topia has signed with the Steel after her playing future in Netball was up in the air . Jade has had an unsuccessful couple of years with the Mystics . Former Sting defender Anna Galvan has signed with the Tactix .

Music Monday James Bond 007 Movie Theme Music

Since I picked up a couple of James Bond movies on DVD on Saturday there could only be one choice for this weeks pick .

BTW what is everybody actor and portray of James Bond ?

My is Timothy Dalton because his portray is rugged if somewhat lacking in the humour of earlier and later films .

Silver Ferns Vs Jamaica Game Two Wrap Up

Introduction

I wrap up the second win ever that Jamaica has recorded over the Silver Ferns .

Result

Jamaica 53 Silver Ferns 50

My Thoughts

Well well what a difference forty eight hours makes . Jamaica were hungry for turnovers from the first Centre Pass . The return of Liana Barrett- Chase at WA saw her make a much needed come back but perhaps also disrupted the rhyme of the Silver Ferns mid court . Things went really down hill in the second quarter instead of sticking with their oppsition on the scoreboard the Silver Ferns failed to cope with the pressure . As a direct result in that quarter only five goals were scored by the team that had won the first game , they went down six goals at half time . Oh how the pressure told Irene Van dyk missed some sitters very much reminiscent of the World Championship final . For the rest of the game it was tit for tat with Jamaica hanging onto the lead . In fact in the last quarter the Silver Ferns waited until it was far late to mount a comeback . I am to lazy to post anything else .

Silver Ferns Vs Jamaica Game One Wrap Up

Introduction

For any reader who may be interested I shall wrap up the Silver Ferns victory over Jamaica .

Result

Silver Ferns 61 Jamaica 56

My Thoughts

Well I will start off with the negatives so that I can end on a positive note . The Silver Ferns mid court duo of Laura Langman and Temepara George threw a few to many wild passes that either went out of court or Irene Van dyk struggled to catch . Langman made up it by taking a number of great intercepts. In the three quarters Larrissa Willcox didn’t make a great deal of an impact . At times the ball got into the Jamaican shooting circle a little to easily . At the Silver Ferns shooting end a most unusual and exciting thing happened Maria Tutaia was the dominate shooter !!

This is a kin to the world being turned upside down when you consider how that Irene was also on the court at the same time . Maria worked the goal circle magnificently and shot at a amazing 97% . Undoubtedly it was Maria best game for the Silver Ferns . While I wouldn’t fault Katrina Grant but I must say that Joline Henry was more suited to combating Simone Forbes . The Jamaican team stayed with the Silver Ferns up until a point in the final quarter , they are certainly a differnt side to contend with at home . At times the Jamaicans were guilty of failing to score off the turn overs they gained . My feeling is that the series will be drawn with the Silver Ferns losing Fridays game .

Silver Ferns vs England Wrap Up

Introduction

As the International season begins to come to a close I wrap up the Silver Ferns victory over England .

Result

Silver Ferns 66 England 59

My Thoughts

The most disappointing aspect of the game was how the Silver Ferns let England back into the game during the fourth quarter . At next years Commonwealth Games if the Silver Ferns do something similiar then it could well mean the difference between a Gold or Silver medal . Both teams shooting percentage was in the 90% range .

I wonder if the recent World Series effected both teams shooting percentages ?
Up until the last quarter England were behind on the scoreboard because they made more turnovers and they failed to score off any turnovers themselves gained . I just wanted Marry Maria Tutaia as she was sinking long range bombs . In the end England took three quarters of the game to apply pressure on the Silver Ferns and they failed to hold there composure when extra time rolled around . Credit to Casey Williams captaincy her team kept there composure in extra time even thou the game shouldn’t have gone that far .

No after match report could be complete without a mention of the of the incompetent bungling that led to the Umpires blowing the whistle for full time when extra time was due . Eventually after some of the crowd began to leave the players too back to the court for extra time . Somehow the English officials didn’t know that there weren’t going to be any draws , so they never mentioned this to the umpires !

The English commentary team and camera work was just as bad . I mean the commentary team didn’t even that there was spouse to be extra time . Come on I know that TVNZ is facing cutbacks but how much can it cost to have Jenny May Coffin and Julie Cooney(SP?) to commentate a game from a TV in the studio ?

Please please TV1 don’t subject us to those clowns in future and have the usual commentary team do their job even if they aren’t at a particular game . In other ANZ Championship news Jenny May coffin has come out of retirement and signed with the Mystics . Peta Stephens has signed with the Tactix after she was dumped from the Firebirds .

World Series Wrap Up

Introduction

In this entry I wrap up the Netball World Series also known as Fastnet .

Results

Round Robin
England 36 Samoa 16
Australia 31 Jamaica 26
New Zealand 27 Malawi 22
England 24 New Zealand 21
Jamaica 30 Samoa 22
Australia 31 Malawi 19
New Zealand 37 Jamaica 28
Australia 25 New Zealand 22
Malawi 33 Samoa 16
England 27 Jamaica 24
Australia 37 Samoa 18
England 33 Malawi 22
New Zealand 34 Samoa 14
Jamaica 30 Malawi 25
England 25 Australia 19

Semi Finals

Jamaica 33 England 22
New Zealand 27 Australia 17

Final

New Zealand 32 Jamaica 27

My Thoughts

On the Whole I found the World Series and the new rules to be extremely uninspiring . Shortening what is usually only sixty minute game removed all the excitement and anticipation that builds up during a regular fifteen minute quarter . The use of tactical interchange bench was rendered useless because there wasn't enough time for the player coming to the court to make an impact . I found watching shots being taken from outside the circle to be entertaining but more so gimmicky . For a concept that is spouse to be the exciting future of Netball I saw an awful lot of empty seats during the round robin games . The final nail in the coffin in terms of lack excitement must surely be how at times the TVNZ commentary team had nothing else to talk about expect for the Jamaican teams uniforms .

If they really want to stir things up they should keep the court the same length and move the goal post into the centre of the goal circle. As for the teams England suffered from what can only be described as an epic fail they started the tournament so promisingly only to bow out in the semis against Jamaica . Remember that the English players had taken part in a regional tournament before hand which exposed them to FastNet rules . By resting Sharelle McMahon the Australians rightfully showed that there priority remains the regular form of the game .

On the positive side of things Malawi were more competitive under the new format then they would have usually been . Oh and it was good to see Bianca Chatfield make a return from injury . Next year the World Series will again be held in Manchester . The Silver Ferns winning the tournament is of course a plus .

Before Netball New Zealand think about hosting the event or creating a regional tournament existing player pathways for the regular game need to be examined and improved .

2010 McEntee Hire International Beach Volleyball Tour

Introduction

Three out of the four dates and venues for the National Beach Volleyball tour have been confirmed .

Tour Dates

Wellington 9 – 10th January
Mt Maunganui 16 – 17th January
Auckland 22 – 24th January
Gisborne or Ohope 3 – 4th or 13 – 14th January

Reality Check

As things stand the National Tour looks set to be a fraud because it doesnt come to South Island . So in reality it is a North Island tour . Just to rub salt into the wound I won’t get the opportunity to cheer on Anna Scarlett and Susan Blundell in person . Of course should the Tour come to the South Island I will be happy to back track .