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Leeds Carnegie Netball: Team looking for pre-Christmas cheer
Coach Anna Newell is hoping Christmas comes early for Leeds Carnegie's netball team who are eyeing a flying start to the Co-operative Netball Superleague season and dreaming of their first ever title.
Leeds begin the Sky Sports-covered new campaign next Saturday when Loughborough Lightning visit the Headingley Campus of Leeds Metropolitan University (2pm start), before visiting Hertfordshire side The Mavericks for a Monday night fixture two days later.
Newell's girls then entertain Glasgow Wildcats on Saturday, December 19 before heading into the Christmas break.
Leeds finished a best ever fourth-place last season, qualifying themselves for the play-offs, and Newell admits once again a top-four berth is the initial aim.
Boosted by high-class international signings Carla Dziwoki and Rachel Beale and with the exuberance of youth throughout, the Leeds coach is dreaming of going all the way.
"Obviously, we are hoping to get into the play-offs again and once you get in there anything can happen," said Newell.
"Last year was the first time we got into the play-offs and that was great and hopefully this year we will be a bit more prepared if we can get into them.
"It would be brilliant if we could win it and we have got a really young squad. We have got two 16-year-olds and apart from three or four players, the rest of the squad are all under 20-years-old.
"Team Bath won it last year but they have lost a few players this year but Surrey Storm, who used to be the Brunel Hurricanes, have made quite a lot of investment. They might be the ones to watch for.
"We're very optimistic and we've got three games before Christmas – Loughborough Lightning, Mavericks which will be on Sky, and Glasgow at home.
"They will be tough games, as will all the games this year, but I fancy our chances."
Natalie Haythornthwaite and Lauren Potter are the babies of Carnegie's squad at just 16-years-old but such talents will learn plenty from international recruits Dziwoki and Beale.
Aussie Dziwoki and Kiwi Beale both have experience of the ANZ Championship – Australia and New Zealand's elite netball competition – and Newell is extremely grateful to have both players on board.
"It's really good to have players of that quality who have played at the highest level," she said. "We also had two overseas internationals last year and it's just great as they have experience which they can pass on to the younger players."
Newell also admits her players relish the prospect of being televised on Sky, with a week on Monday's trip to The Mavericks set to be screened three days later on Sky Sports.
In fine form following an unbeaten pre-season, Carnegie are now chomping at the bit to get the season proper started.
"It's exciting being on Sky and the girls like all the build up that goes with it," said Newell.
"Once they get on to the court they just get right into the game but they do love being on Sky and really like the professional feel it gives it."
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Leeds Carnegie NTL (Netball Talent League – under-19s) will also play Loughborough Lightning at noon on Saturday, December 12, also at the Headingley Campus of Leeds Metropolitan University.
For ticket information for The Co-operative Netball Superleague and the NTL, email Geraldine Plant at g.plant@leedsmet.ac.uk or call 07824482619.
Full 2009/10 Leeds Carnegie Superleague squad: Carla Dziwoki, Rachel Beale, Afrika Morris, Joanne Davies, Laura Gregory, Lauren Potter, Danielle Bloomfield, Natalie Haythornthwaite, Natalie Panagarry, Lisa Ferneyhough, Stephanie Wilson, Joanne Walker, Chantelle Hankin, Helen Lloyd, Rachel Shaw.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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