Sparrows willing to erase bitter memories

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The National, Friday 13th July, 2012

By HENRY MORABANG
DIGICEL Sparrows will be out to erase the bitter memories of last weekend when they play in-form Mermaids in the Port Moresby premier netball fixture at Rita Flynn’s netball court tomorrow.
Sparrows will have to lift their performance in all departments to win the match.
Midcourt players Noami Taviri-Leka and Caroline Genaia must take control early to have any chance of winning.
Despite being sick, coach Julianne Leka-Maliaki was at the Sparrows training last night to ensure her players were focussed on taking the game to the Mermaids.
“Our performance has been below par and that resulted in two losses last weekend but I expect my girls to lift against Mermaids tomorrow (Saturday),” she said.
Leka-Maliaki said her two shooters – Velda Kerea (GA) and Daphne Hungrabos (GS) – did not perform well last weekend. Hungrabos failed to impress supporters last weekend but will definitely improve this weekend.
Mermaids, under Pole Kassman, are a very strong, young team.
They have players who are capable of pulling surprises on the court and can never be underestimated by their opponents.
They have an imported player in a Samoan who is playing strongly in mid-court, while the shooting department is under the watchful hands of Rayleen Andrew.
Andrew, who returned from the Pacific Series Netball as an improved player, will be the one to watch tomorrow.
In the curtainraiser, the Esco Telstars versus Monier Paramana clash will go down to the wire as both teams are equally matched in all departments.
Both have seasoned campaigners and it will be a very interesting match. In the first premier match of the day, the clash of the tail-enders will be just as interesting.
Aroma Coast, which has been playing very good netball but not well enough to win, should win over Veupunama.
The points ladder as of last weekend: Telstars 22, Rebels 20, Mermaids 15, Paramana 14, Sparrows 10, Veupunama 6 and Aroma Coast 6.