The much anticipated ANZ Trans Tasman Netball Championship has been launched in spectacular style as the stars and celebrities came out in force in Auckland on Thursday.
The stars and celebrities were out in force at the launch of the ANZ Trans Tasman Netball Championship at the Britomart Pavilion in Auckland on Thursday. The new competition which kicks off next month is set to revolutionise the way netball is played, viewed and supported throughout New Zealand and Australia.
Prime Minister Helen Clark was among the special guests who witnessed two demonstration matches to launch the ANZ Championship.
As a curtain raiser, an all-star celebrity team featuring some of New Zealand’s favourite TV and radio stars, including Dancing With The Stars’ Miriama Smith and Stefano Oliveri, the boys from The Crowd Goes Wild, Dayna and Matt from Studio 2, and Sevens star and Code host Matua Parkinson, donned their bibs and pitted their skills against one of the top-ranked secondary school netball teams in New Zealand, Auckland’s Mt Albert Grammar School.
The feature match saw a Dream Team of some of New Zealand’s greatest netball players going head to head against the ANZ Championship’s current stars. Temepara George and Leana de Bruin (LG Northern Mystics), Maria Tutaia and Brigette Tapene (Waikato/BOP Magic), Frances Solia (Suzuki Central Pulse), Elizabeth Manu (SKOPE Canterbury Tactix) and Jenny-May Coffin (Southern Steel) faced off against a Dream Team that included former Silver Ferns Louisa Wall MP, Donna Wilkins (nee Loffhagen), Teresa Tairi and Tania Dalton.
Wayne Besant, Managing Director ANZ Retail Banking, says, “The ANZ Championship is set to be a fantastic and fun event, and at the heart of our sponsorship this year is our commitment to ensuring Kiwis and Aussies have unforgettable fan experiences.”
Tony Holding, General Manager, ANZ Championship, says, “Ten new teams, enhanced spectator experiences, live broadcast of matches – there’s so much to enjoy in this inaugural season of the ANZ Championship.
“The intense rivalry between Australia and New Zealand is certain to spill over on court as the teams duel over 17 weeks towards title glory. With five teams from each nation in action, only the most-talented and skillful of our athletes will take the court in this elite competition.”
The first ANZ Championship game will be played on Saturday 5 April in Wellington, when the Central Suzuki Pulse takes on the Melbourne Vixens.
The scores were:
Mt Albert Grammar 19; Celebrity All-Stars 2
ANZ Championship All-Stars 8; Dream Team 10
Teams:
The ANZ Championship All-Star Team: Bessie Manu, SKOPE Canterbury Tactix; Frances Solia, Central Suzuki Pulse; Jenny-May Coffin, Southern Steel; Catherine Latu, LG Northern Mystics; Grace Rasmussen, LG Northern Mystics; Maria Tutaia, Waikato/BOP Magic; Brigette Tapene, Waikato/BOP Magic
The Celebrity All-Stars: Miriama Smith and Stefano Olivieri, Dancing With The Stars; Dayna Vawdrey, Host of Studio 2, TVNZ; Jordan Vandermade, Host of Studio 2 and Singing Bee, TVNZ; Kerre Woodham, Newstalk ZB host and Herald On Sunday columnist; James McOnie, The Crowd Goes Wild; Matua Parkinson, Sevens star and host of Code on Maori Television; Glenn Osbourne, former All Black and host of Code; Tawera Nikau, Rugby league legend and host of Code.
The Dream Team: Tania Dalton, Former Silver Fern and former star shooter for the Southern Sting; Louisa Wall, Former Silver Fern and Black Fern international rugby player, and Labour MP; Teresa Taieri, Former Silver Fern and former star of the Northern Force; Donna Wilkins, Southern Steel assistant coach and former Silver Fern (also represented New Zealand in basketball); Kate Dowling, former Canterbury Flames defender; Natalie Milicich, Assistant coach, Northern Mystics and special guest Teiuna Keenan, Mt Albert Grammar School
