Sharks target repeat

The personnel might be different but the same determination remains at Sharks to be crowned the Cairns Netball Association Division One premiers for the second time in as many years.

"We’ve had a pretty big pre-season. We started in early February and have been doing a fair bit of fitness but most of it is about getting to know each other and getting the combinations up because everyone is basically new."

The club starts its 2009 campaign at Martyn Street Reserve tonight with a round one clash against perennial rival Leprechauns 1 at 8.35pm.

New coach Leanne Bell, who takes over from a pregnant Cherie Horan, said her side’s preparation had gone as well as could be expected.

"We’d love to go back-to-back but it’s basically a new team we’ve got," she said. "We haven’t got many players left over from last year.

"We’ve had a pretty big pre-season. We started in early February and have been doing a fair bit of fitness but most of it is about getting to know each other and getting the combinations up because everyone is basically new."

As well as Horan, Sharks will be without the services of premiership players Emily Scott (pregnant) and Renee Croxford (Melbourne), with ageless defender Lauren Hellmuth set to play in second division this season.

Absent friends aside, Bell said nothing could unite a Sharks team like a match against Leprechauns.

Leprechauns 1 coach Kym McPhee-Smith said she would give a few junior players the chance to impress tonight.

The structure of the Cairns netball competition has been revamped this season.

Under the competition’s new format, each club will boast a squad of up to 24 players from which a division one and division two side will be named.

Leprechauns will only boast one team in the top grade this year. Cougars will be absent from division one.

New club Saints, which is aligned with Cairns Saints Football Club, has entered the draw this season, meaning six sides will battle for the premiership in the senior league.

Saints, coached by Karen Stormont, make their debut against Aces at 7.20pm.

In the final match of round, Radars take on Wildcatz at 6pm.

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