The Maitland A1-grade netball season is ready to get under way next weekend with the official release of the draw yesterday.
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The season will start on May 3, a month later than usual, with a clash of dates and a new recording system causing headaches for the Maitland Netball Association.
School holidays, Easter and Groovin The Moo all fell in the first month of the season, prompting organisers to push back round one.
Reigning premiers Lantry Plumbing will take on Family Hotel to kick-start their title defence, while beaten grand finalists Hills Solicitors will face George Tavern.
There are also some new team names for the 2014 season with Hills Succession replacing Hills Stormtroopers and Tolsaf Cranes a new entry for the Rugby Blacks Netball Club.
Hills Succession will face last season’s A2 champions RSL Cocktails, who have been promoted to the top grade, while Tolsaf Cranes have the bye.
Three time minor premiers and grand finalists Hills Solicitors are expected to be competitive again, while 2013 grand final winners Lantry Plumbing have strengthened their squad.
Former Hano’s HVE co-coach and goal shooter Rebecca Blewett has joined Lantry Plumbing, while Nikki Robson, who gave birth to her daughter in February, will also line up for the defending champions.
Lantry Plumbing player Carolyn Biemen-King said the team had a good mix of youth and experience, but would not look to change their approach to the game after their premiership triumph.
“We don’t take it too seriously, the girls are just there to enjoy the game so that won’t really change,” she said.
“We certainly get competitive when it gets to semi-final time, but we are a fairly casual team.”
Biemen-King said she expected the team’s younger brigade to develop further this season.
“We’ve got some good young girls and Genevieve Lantry is one whose game improved dramatically last year,” she said.
“She’s only about 16, but I’m expecting big things from her and she’ll only improve further.”
Lantry Plumbing will also welcome back Ashlee Edwards from an ankle injury that kept her out of the finals series.