Netball defender's banking on tougher recent play
Suggest to HHSOG Huia goal keep Tee Aiolupotea it's her team's turn to beat the defending champions in Hawke's Bay's Super 8 Club netball competition and you get the thumbs up.
"We've got a really good chance. Last time they only beat us by one and we missed a few shots down the other end," Aiolupotea said in the countdown to tomorrow night's feature round two clash against Napier Girls' High School in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena.
She was referring to BM Accounting HHSOG Huia's 40-39 loss in the grading round last month. Aiolupotea agreed the fact NGHS haven't had a tough encounter for almost a month and her team was coming off a tough 42-35 win against Central last week could work in her team's favour.
"We have to build on what we did against Central. Bring that level of intensity, particularly our hard defence, to this game and remain composed when the pressure comes on."
A Samoa World Cup representative in 2015, Aiolupotea, 24, is in her second season with Huia. She is impressed with the mix of youth and experience in the team and relishing the opportunity to learn from what coach, former Silver Fern Irene van Dyk, has to offer.
"We're quite lucky to have Irene. She is a legend who brings a lot of experience. The feedback we get from her is really helpful."
A case manager for Work and Income in Hastings and mother of two-year-old daughter Kyani Tvy-Lei, Aiolupotea, believed "the boat had sailed" in terms of future World Cup play for her.
Instead she will focus on making the van Dyk-coached Hawke's Bay senior netball team later this season and making more progress as a rugby player. She is in her first season with the Napier Technical rugby side and with four tries to date the winger is a contender for the Hawke's Bay Tui squad this season.
"I was a little bit nervous about the rugby season as I had never played before. But if the opportunity came to play for the Tui I would take it. It would be neat if the sister-in-law was in the squad too," she said referring to Tech lock and Hastings Girls'High School netball coach Denise Aiolupotea.
Last Saturday Aiolupotea played the second half of Tech's 32-29 win against Clive and described that match as "a big learning game" for her.
The other 7.30pm game tomorrow will see Tremains All In Elusive take on Vet Services Central. In 6pm battles Thirsty Whale Otane Force will start as favourites against Hastings Girls' High School and Optimise Physio Outkast Sports should beat House of Travel Havelock North Kauri
