T&T senior women’s national team netballers, goal-attack Kalifa Mc Collin and goal defence Daystar Swift had their debut seasons in the ANZ Premiership Netball League which jumped off last Saturday in New Zealand, postponed.
Playing at the Edgar Centre Dunedin, Splice Construction Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic opened its season with a 54-48 victory over the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, the club of T&T’s Mc Collin.
However, on Thursday, Netball New Zealand decided to postpone the season for two weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made following the New Zealand Government’s announcement on Thursday regarding indoor mass gatherings.
The postponement will take effect immediately for the scheduled games in round two and three that were due to be played tomorrow and Monday and from March 28-30.
The decision to return to play will be reviewed in just over a week and Netball NZ remains in close consultation with Premiership teams regarding the season ahead.
The 2020 ANZ Premiership season is planned to recommence from round four with no change to scheduled fixtures on April 5 and 6, when Mc Collin's Southern Steel faces the Mystics while Swift's Stars come up against The Good Oil Tactix.
Wallace's Super Netball season faces uncertainty
Chris Symington, Suncorp Super Netball chief executive officer (CEO), says the league is looking at several scenarios' regarding the upcoming season which is due to start on May 2.
The CEO gave the assurance that their priority is the health and well-being of their fans, athletes, coaches, umpires, officials, volunteers and staff.
Earlier this month, the Suncorp Team Girls Cup, a pre-season competition among the clubs including T&T's Samantha Wallace's New South Wales Swifts in the league was previously cancelled and advice to teams regarding pre-season matches in Australia was to 'deliver them in a controlled environment' and that they are 'closed to the general public'.
Symington stated that there's to be no interstate travel for pre-season matches at this stage.
The statement added: "Be assured that the Super Netball League (SNL) and Netball Australia (NA) are working closely with all our key stakeholders as well as government and health experts to monitor the situation and adapt our plans where necessary to ensure the best possible outcomes."