Welsh netball is going on ice this week. Their next two fixtures, against New Zealand’s Silver Ferns, will be played at Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Dai-sport have our own experienced netball journalist in Terry Phillips and he will be reporting on both fixtures.
Terry is usually at the IAW in Cardiff Bay for Devils ice hockey, but this time he is there for a World class netball double-header.
He has reported extensively on the sport while working in Gloucestershire plus Wales – and the England Netball Association presented him with the Rose Award for netball coverage.
Here Terry explains how a local newspaper sports journalist, a squash and badminton player who reported mainly on football, became an ardent fan of netball.
“I was 17-years-old and on holiday with a group of mates at Pontin’s, Weymouth when netball gave all of us the most excruciating and humiliating sporting experiences of our lives.
That was my first holiday with the lads. I was playing Kent County League squash, basketball in the Rochester League and Medway Sunday League football. All the other guys played sport to reasonable levels.
When we chatted to a group of netball players also staying at Pontin’s the challenge was quickly laid down. Yes, there were unsporting comments made about netball – and the netballers simply said: “Ok, let’s play.”
What could go wrong? We were all teenagers standing 6ft tall or more and would be far too strong and powerful for our opposition. Our mistake was agreeing to having an official netball referee!
The netball players turned out in their team kit, while we jogged out in a variety of kit. All of us smirking in the knowledge about the one-sided match about to come.
Little did we know. I played at the back, took possession and produced a magnificent pass which my 6ft 4ins mate Steve Davies caught and scored.
That was the moment I started to discover the intricacies of netball. That ‘basket’ was ruled out and it took us almost three periods to learn where we could run and, crucially, where we couldn’t.
I quickly worked out that it was one step and three seconds only in possession, but that was incredibly tough.
The speed of foot, speed of thought and speed of passing from the netballers was remarkable. There are few sports which can match the combination of athleticism, mental sharpness and sheer fitness needed to play netball at a high quality level.
Us lads were left down and devastated. I learned some valuable lessons that day and, intrigued by the sporting standards set by our opposition, set about learning everything I could about netball.
I have spent 47 years reporting on football, ice hockey and more, but netball has always been a sport I love to watch, trying to analyse the movement of a centre, the composure of shooters and the discipline of every player out there.
Personally, I can’t wait to watch Wales take on the Silver Ferns.
If you haven’t watched netball at a top class level buy a ticket. Take a friend and enjoy the occasion. The experience will be memorable.”
Wales v Silver Ferns – the facts
When? The matches are at Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday, February 7 and Wednesday, February 8. First centre-pass 7.30pm, while the doors open at 6pm.
How do we buy tickets? There are more than 3,000 seats at Ice Arena Wales and they have been selling fast. They are available via http://www.ticketline.co.uk/welsh-netball#bio
Tickets will also be available on the Arena door before the start priced £15 adults, £10 children. Premium seats, including a commemorative programme, are available at £20.
What happens to the ice? Cardiff Devils played Manchester Storm in an Elite League fixture on Sunday evening. Arena staff started laying the netball court above the ice this morning.
The IAW has hosted a professional boxing event over the last year – and there will be more non-ice events planned.
New Zealand: Ranked number two team in the World, while Wales are eighth. This is the first visit to Wales by the Ferns for 20 years. They have been World Champions four times, runners-up on eight occasions, and earned Commonwealth Games gold twice (in Australia 2006 and India 2010)
NZ Captain: Katrina Grant, a 29-year-old who is closing in on 100 caps. Katrina is 6ft 1in tall – and that is the average height of the Ferns players.
Tallest player: 20-year-old defender Kelly Jury at 6ft 2ins.
Most capped player: Maria Tutaia, a 29-year-old described by the Silver Ferns as ‘the most feared shooter in World netball’. Maria was more than 100 caps, having made her debut 12 years ago.
Youngest player: teenager Maia Wilson, aged 19.
Kiwi coach: Janine Southby, appointed in 2015. She is only the 10th coach to guide the Silver Ferns since 1938.
Last meeting: Wales and New Zealand played each other was at the 2011 World Cup in Singapore.
The IAW: There are plenty of outlets serving fast food, soft drinks and alcohol plus vending machines selling snacks and soft drinks. No alcohol will be permitted to be brought in from outside IAW.
All bars inside IAW are all cash only – and there is a cash machine at Morrison’s across the road.
Netball merchandise will be on sale at the arena including t-shirts, netballs and souvenirs.
Parking is available around the arena, while the number 9 and 9A buses run from Cardiff City centre, a few years from the Queens Vaults public house opposite the Millennium Stadium, to directly outside the IAW.
Wendy White Trophy: The winners of this Swansea University-sponsored Wales v New Zealand Test Series will receive the Wendy White Trophy. The much-loved former President of Welsh netball passed away in August last year and this is a gesture to honour her life-long commitment to the sport.
Barry-born Wendy was part of the Welsh netball fraternity for more than 50 years as an International player, umpire, coach, bench official and in later years a key member of the Welsh board. Wendy was a founder member of Barry Netball Club and was at the heart of the Dinas club in Cardiff until her illness.
Silver Ferns team: Katrina Grant (capt), Maria Tutaia (vice-capt), Gina Crampton, Shannon Francois, Anna Harrison, Kelly Jury, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Sam Sinclair, Jane Watson, Maia Wilson.
Wales team: Sara Bell, Fern Davies, Suzy Drane (capt), Bethan Dyke, Chloe James, Kyra Jones, Nia Jones, Lateisha Kidner, Chelsea Lewis, Kelly Morgan, Georgia Rowe, Amanda Varey.