[Ian Harkin]

#1313186

In 1985, Australia’s first national netball league was introduced, the Esso Superleague. It featured the AIS and a series of the top club teams from around Australia. Unfortunately I don’t have full information from every year, but here is what I do have…

NETBALL GOES NATIONAL
SIAN WATKINS
The Age 30/1/1985

Eight top Australian netball teams will take part in a National League competition in June, with television coverage of the finals. The competition, to be run along the lines of the mens’ National Basketball League,is the first womens’ sport to be organised on a national level.

The All Australia Netball Association’s national coaching director Pam Barham, in Melbourne for the Australia Games netball competition, said yesterday that six top state clubs from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, would be invited to compete, along with the Australian Institute of Sport team. A challenge competition will be held to fill the remaining two positions.

The competition will run only for a month. Barham said it was seen as a pilot program and that many players would not be available for a long season. The national titles are held in May and a national team leaves for London in July for the World Games. Top state teams likely to take part in the league are Manly-Warringah (NSW), Melbourne Blues (Vic), Tango (SA), Valleys (Qld) and Royals (WA).

The league was a shared idea between Barham and the Australian Institute of Sport which needed a good competition for its team. Previously, its women travelled overseas to play top teams. “The league, with ABC coverage, will be a great boost not only for the AIS but for netball generally,” Barham said.

The league is sponsored by Esso, which also has provided funds for junior netball development programs, State coahing directors, and Australia’s participation in the Australia Games. TAA will help teams with airfares.

[Ian Harkin]

#1313187

1985 ESSO SUPERLEAGUE

Zone 1:
AIS 40 def East Doncaster 37
Manly 55 def Valleys 41
AIS 45 def Manly 44
East Doncaster 45 def Valleys 43
AIS ?? vs Valleys ??
Manly?? vs East Doncaster ??

1. AIS
2. Manly
3. East Doncaster
4. Valleys

Zone 2:
Perth Royals 58 def Bayside 54
Sutherland 34 drew with Melb Blues 34
Perth Royals 52 def Sutherland 41
Bayside 41 def Melb Blues 40
Perth Royals ?? vs Melb Blue ??
Bayside ?? vs Sutherland ??

1. Perth Royals
2. Bayside
3. Melb Blues
3. Sutherland

SEMI-FINALS:
Manly 71 def Perth Royals 50
AIS 52 def Bayside 48

3/4 PLAYOFF:
Perth Royals 57 drew with Bayside 57

GRAND FINAL:
AIS 52 def Manly 46

[Ian Harkin]

#1313188

1986 ESSO SUPERLEAGUE

Zone 1:
AIS 40 def East Doncaster 39
Randwick 41 def Tango 35
AIS 56 def Randwick 42
East Doncaster 46 def Tango 38
AIS 57 def Tango 47
East Doncaster 38 def Randwick 30

1. AIS
2. East Doncaster
3. Ranwick
4. Tango

Zone 2:
Manly 61 def Perth Royals 57
Manly 63 def Valleys 54
Perth Royals 65 def Matrics 48
Valleys 26 drew with Matrics 26
Manly 59 def Matrics 30
Valleys 52 def Perth Royals 31

1. Manly
2. Valleys
3. Perth Royals
4. Matrics

SEMI FINALS:
East Doncaster 45 def Manly 42
AIS 49 def Valleys 40

3/4 PLAYOFF:
Valleys 52 def Manly 49

GRAND FINAL:
AIS 61 def EAST DONCASTER 35

[Ian Harkin]

#1313190

1987 ESSO SUPERLEAGUE

Winner: MELBOURNE BLUE

.

1988: Competition not held

[Ian Harkin]

#1313191

1989 ESSO SUPERLEAGUE

AIS
Tina Anderson
Natalie Avellino
Jodie Clark
Frances Duiker
Sharon Finnan
Susan Gill
Marni James
Julie Ann Sloan
Clare Smallacombe
Alison Wheatley
Zelda Yates
Coach: Gaye Teede

BRISBANE KQs
Janet Bothwell
Janelle Derrington
Patti Elmer
Tracey Foran
Cathy Lalor
Sally Lovelle
Leesa Moar
Janelle Petersen
Megan Pittiford
Annette Smith
Maria Smith
Vicki Wilson
Coaches: Jan Magaccis & Elizabeth White

SYDNEY TIGERS
Debbie Curry
Nicole Cusack
Carissa Dalwood
Keeley Devery
Kate Englert
Wendy Etherington
Sue Kenny
Cheryl McCormack
Maxine Peebles
Kellianne Ruddy
Catriona Wagg
Lisa Wilson
Coach: Anne Sargeant

DONCASTER KEAS
Kylie Aggiss
Julie Gibbs
Yolanda Hearn
Michelle Jones
Shelley O’Donnell
Wendy O’Donnell
Nicole Richardson
Rosie Richmann
Danielle Silvagni
Jenny Sparkman
Cathy Spottiswood
Michelle Werner
Coach: Robyn English

ADELAIDE CONTAX
Sarah Angove
Julia Blackwell
Leanne Bottril
Kim Delaney
Kathryn Harby
Vicki Neale
Julie Nykiel
Karen Schulz
Leanne Smith
Sarah Sutter
Nicole Washington
Coach: Marg Angove

PERTH ROYALS
Tracey Cameron
Helen Carter
Donna Cocking
Carol Davidson
Maree De Haas
Sue Gerrard
Bev Howard
Julie Neville
Sue Nicholas
Lori Patterson
Amanda Wheeler
Bronwyn White
Coach: Bette Allison

[Ian Harkin]

#1313192

TIGERS ARE POISED TO SPRING
LOUISE EVANS
Sydney Morning Herald

The Sydney Tigers go into their first Esso SuperLeague netball game tonight billed as the strongest side in the national league and with the added advantage of having former NSW and Australian captain Anne Sargeant as their coach.

It is Sargeant’s first non-playing coaching position since retiring from competition last year. She admits to being a “touch nervous” about tonight’s game, in which the Tigers face the Doncaster Kea’s, one of the toughest teams in the competition, in the first round in Melbourne.

“I’m nervous but that is not such a bad thing,” she said yesterday. “I’m really pleased with the way the players have been shaping up. We’re being billed as the star team but there is a danger in that. This is sudden-death competition. You have to go in hard and play hard to get the points.”

The Esso SuperLeague is the first major competition on the netball calendar and features the top teams from NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport. They will play three preliminary rounds with the final scheduled for April 16.

On paper, the Sydney Tigers boast the strongest line-up of all the States with five members from the Australian team selected last week for the coming Milo Cup against New Zealand next month and the Johnson & Johnson Cup against the West Indies in May.

The Tigers’ vice-captain, Keeley Devery, returns to the national team after full knee reconstruction surgery which kept her off court for a year.

After four weeks of hard training with the Tigers, Devery said the squad of 12 was keen to take the court against Doncaster, the side she predicted the Tigers would face again in the final.

“We’re a highly competitive side,” she said. “With Anne coaching us we have a great advantage.”

Following the match with Doncaster tonight the Tigers will meet the Brisbane KQ’s tomorrow. Their first match in Sydney will be on April 1 against the Perth City Royals.

The Tigers team is: Sue Kenny (c), Keeley Devery (v-c), Nicole Cusack, Lisa Wilson, Deborah Curry, Carissa Dalwood, Kellianne Ruddy, Catriona Wagg, Cheryl McCormack, Wendy Etherington, Kate Englert, Maxine Peebles.

[Ian Harkin]

#1313193

Results:
Bris KQs 42 def AIS 36
Syd Tigers 48 def Melb Keas 31
AIS 45 def Melb Keas 40
Syd Tigers 61 def Bris KQs 39
Perth Royals 55 def Adel Contax 30

AIS 37 def Adel Contax 36
Syd Tigers 68 def Perth Royals 39
Melb Keas 46 def Bris KQs 42
AIS 48 def Perth Royals 44
Syd Tigers 56 def Adel Contax 34

Adel Contax 46 def Bris KQs 44
Melb Keas 55 def Perth Royals 54
Syd Tigers 64 def AIS 44
Bris KQs 66 def Perth Royals 57
Melb Keas 43 def Adel Contax 20

Points table:
Sydney Tigers 10
AIS 6
Doncaster Keas 6
Brisbane KQ’s 4
Perth Royals 2
Adelaide Contax 2

AIS and Keas finished equal on points, but AIS qualified for the final having beaten Keas 45-40 in the rounds.

[Ian Harkin]

#1313194

A PRIME REASON WHY TIGERS WILL SHOW AIS LITTLE MERCY
LOUISE EVANS
14/04/1989
Sydney Morning Herald

There appears to be as much chance of the Sydney Tigers not winning tomorrow’s Esso SuperLeague netball final as the Prime Minister not turning up to hand out the trophy and be photographed with the victors.

While Australia’s greatest sporting groupie will be at the State Sport Centre to witness the final act in the Tigers’ unbeaten season, Mr Hawke will also be casting an interested eye on their opponents, the Australian Institute of Sport, who are funded by taxpayers.

It was suggested to Mr Hawke’s minders that his attendance at the netball final would be a good public relations exercise, and not being one to dodge a great sporting event, the Prime Minister readily accepted the invitation from the All Australian Netball Association to perform the official honours on Sunday.

It would appear, however, that the only chance the AIS have of taking the trophy back to Canberra is if the Tigers don’t turn up tomorrow.

The AIS are a young, aggressive side who have done exceedingly well to reach the final. They have shown guts and determination in their lead-up matches, which have all been closely fought contests, except for their last-round game in Canberra which the Tigers won by 20 points.

In the first quarter of last week’s clash the AIS matched the Tigers in possession but were unable to convert their opportunities into much needed points. Once they slipped into the chase position they struggled to maintain form.

Compared with the raw aggression of the AIS, the Tigers’ greatest asset is their control and experience. Their side boasts five national players and is coached by former Australian captain Anne Sargeant.

They have won all their games by large margins and all their players are injury-free for the final. And while both teams play a similar style of short, fast netball, the younger AIS players are clearly intimidated by the strength of their opposition.

AIS coach Gaye Teede said her team would be having a light run at the State Sport Centre tomorrow morning to adjust to the environment and help settle pre-game nerves.

“There will be a lot of pressure,” Teede said. “It will be a day of reckoning. The girls are very toey. They faced the Tigers last week and found out just how hard it is earn the ball. It’s tough to have to back up again so soon for the final.

“We had a good look at the video of last week’s game and identified two areas we have since worked on. We have to capitalise on our attack while holding back theirs.

“We want to take the game to them and not allow them to dictate the pace. We did it in the first quarter last week, though we played very patchy netball in the remaining three quarters.”

For her part, Sargeant is looking forward to, rather than feeling anxious about, her first non-playing final.

“We’re all keyed up for the event but I have been stressing that it will not be an easy job,” she said. “Our past record is a comfort but you’re only as good as your last victory.

“I have also been stressing that the AIS have everything to win and nothing to lose on Sunday. They will be throwing everything they have at us and we’ll have to maintain the pressure.

“I have every confidence in them. They are well prepared and more than ready to take on the task ahead.”

[Ian Harkin]

#1313195

GRAND FINAL:
SYD TIGERS 57 def A.I.S 36

.

CUSACK ON TARGET FOR THE TIGERS
LOUISE EVANS
Sydney Morning Herald

The Sydney Tigers won the Esso SuperLeague grand final yesterday with the same calculated precision and casual charm the Prime Minister used to woo the cheering crowd at the State Sport Centre.

The only member of the Tigers’ camp who didn’t seem to be revelling in the festivities at Homebush was coach Anne Sargeant, but then she had good reason. It was her first non-playing grand final as coach and the nerves in her stomach were only made worse by nausea she was suffering with her first pregnancy.

The Australian Institute of Sport arrived looking hesitant and nervous. They were the underdogs and they were on unfamiliar territory. In their final round clash last week, the AIS had gone down by 20 points to the Tigers and few expected the young side to edge any closer yesterday.

The Tigers took a quick 5-1 lead virtually before the AIS realised the game had begun. The visitors rallied quickly, however, and struck with a determination that took the complacent Tigers by surprise.

AIS goal attack Tina Anderson saved a wayward pass in the circle, flicked it around the post to Zelda Yeates who netted the point. A few more quick points saw the AIS go into the break trailing by two points at 9-7.

In the second quarter the Tigers came out firing and a series of short, fast passing sequences increased their lead to 16-8. The stunned AIS players went into retreat, a position they maintained until their defence finally combined midway through the second quarter to wrest a rebounding ball from the Tigers’ goal and channel it down the court for a goal.

The crowd was momentarily hushed when the Tigers’ fiery wing defence, Lisa Wilson, accidentally smacked AIS centre Allison Wheatley in the mouth. Play was halted while a stunned Wheatley regained her composure.

Wilson, who is not known to stop for anyone, also set umpire Jan Cross off balance later in the game when she dared cross her path.

Some spectacular shooting from Nicole Cusack saw the Tigers continue to pile on the points.

At half-time the home side led 26-13 and throughout the rest of the game Cusack continued potting points from all around the circle.

To try and halt the Tigers’ charge at half-time, AIS coach Gaye Teede replaced shooter Yeates with Claire Smallacombe. Yeates netted only four attempts out of 17. In her absence Smallacombe clocked 13 out of 18.

[Ian Harkin]

#1313196

Thanks to Netball Fan…

[Ian Harkin]

#1313197

1990 ESSO SUPERLEAGUE

AIS
Sheridan Abbott
Tina Anderson
Natalie Avellino
Michelle Benison
Frances Duiker
Sharon Finnan
Nicole Foster
Sue Gill
Danielle Grant
Amanda Grassick
Marne James
Tania Newsome
Nicole Richardson
Clare Smallacombe
Nerida Spindler
Jenny Urquhart
Alison Wheatley
Coach: Wilma Shakespear

BRISBANE KQs
Debbie Abbott
Janet Bothwell
Patrice Bourne
Janelle Derrington
Patricia Farrell
Cathy Lalor
Leesa Moar
Megan Pittiford
Kim Richardson
Vicki Wilson
Coach: Jan Magaccis

SYDNEY PULSAR PANTHERS
Cathy Cassidy
Nicole Cusack
Carissa Dalwood
Keeley Devery
Sue Gill
Michelle Guy
Sue Kenny
Maxine Peebles
Kellianne Ruddy
Catriona Wagg
Lisa Wilson
Coach: Anne Sargeant

MELBOURNE CITY
Sue Dickinson
Chris Harris
Paolina Hearn
Roselee Jencke
Deanne Lindsay
Jennie Longhurst
Simone McKinnis
Shelley O’Donnell
Wendy O’Donnell
Cathy Spottiswood
Coach: Norma Plummer

ADELAIDE CONTAX
Sarah Angove
Marlene Barratt
Sandra Caon-Parsons
Michelle De Meo
Michelle Fielke
Kathryn Harby
Rachel Jones
Jennifer Kennett
Sarah Sutter
Karen Schulz
Coach: Julie Francou

WAIS GOLD
Denise Abordi
Justine Burns
Erin Cummins
Karen Hollands
Wendy Horton
Jodie McGowan
Leona Muenchow
Julie Neville
Peta Simeon
Julie-Ann Sloan
Coach: Colleen Ranger

[Ian Harkin]

#1313198

Results:
Adel Contax 44 def Syd Panthers 43
Syd Panthers 69 def Bris KQs 39
Melb City 48 def WAIS Gold 27
AIS 58 def Bris KQs 49
Adel Contax 53 def Bris KQs 29

Melb City 59 def Adel Contax 32
Syd Panthers 60 def WAIS Gold 33
Melb City 57 def Syd Panthers 42
AIS 52 def WAIS Gold 34
Melb City 56 def Bris KQs 32

Adel Contax 53 def WAIS Gold 32
Melb City 56 def AIS 41
Syd Panthers 56 def AIS 30
WAIS Gold 50 def Bris KQs 37
Adel Contax 44 def AIS 39

Points table:
Melbourne City 10
Adelaide Contax 8
Sydney Panthers 6
AIS 4
WAIS Gold 2
Brisbane KQs 0

[Ian Harkin]

#1313208

CITY DON’T EXPECT EASY FINAL
Sydney Morning Herald

Favourites Melbourne City will be ready for anything when they meet Adelaide Quit 10 in the Superleague netball final at Homebush State Sports Centre today, coach Norma Plummer said last night.

Plummer said she would not be relying on her awesome attacking power which tore Adelaide’s defence to pieces last time they met. Melbourne thrashed Adelaide 59-32 before a home crowd on March 18 to move into the finals with an unbeaten record during six weeks of preliminary rounds.

“We’re not taking the game as a piece of cake,” Plummer said. “We may have won by 27 goals but Adelaide were at the other end of a tired leg during a two-day run.

“They would have worked on areas which weren’t good last time.”

However, Adelaide coach Julie Francou said her team, although underdogs, would be no pushover. Francou said that last time her team met Melbourne they did not perform to the best of their ability.

“We were at the end of a double header but we expect the match in Sydney to be very close,” she said. “Our defence line got torn to pieces, their attackers were extremely fast -this time we hope to be a lot tighter.

“They’ve gone through undefeated, they’re a fully settled side, but they had an advantage with the home crowd last time.”

[Ian Harkin]

#1313209

GRAND FINAL:
MELB CITY 52 def ADEL CONTAX 42

(played in Sydney)

.

MELBOURNE CITY WINS NETBALL CUP
Sydney Morning Herald

Melbourne City last night beat Adelaide Quit 10 to win the inaugural Prime Minister’s Cup in the final of the Esso Superleague netball competition.

Melbourne, the favourites to take out the Cup, beat Adelaide 52-42 at the NSW State Sports Centre, Homebush.

Melbourne goal attacker Chris Harris shot 29 from 39 and Deanne Lindsay shot 23 from 29 to give the Victorian side victory.

[amandalouise]

#1313212

Thanks Ian, all very interesting reading!

[Author]

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