GILBERT NETBALL NEWS

2010 ANZ CHAMPIONSHIPS DRAW RELEASE

Fri 25 September 2009

After the success of the 2009 ANZ Championship, the world's best netballer's will make their much anticipated season return in 2010 on Saturday 20 March.
 
Played over 14 rounds featuring 69 fiercely contested matches, the 10 teams will duel for a coveted finals berth, culminating in the Grand Final showdown in mid July.
 
The record breaking 2009 season saw attendance and ratings' records broken and new rivalries formed, setting the stage for 2010 to be the most competitive and successful season in the competition's short history.
 
ANZ Championship General Manager Anthony Everard said netball fans on both sides of the Tasman can look forward to another year of milestones for the ANZ Championship.
 
"Season 2009 brought so many highlights and broke attendance and ratings records, and we are anticipating that the 2010 season will take the competition to new heights.
 
"We've produced a draw that enables each team to be highly competitive and also enhances the entertainment and public appeal of this elite sporting competition," he said.
 
"The 2010 fixture adds one new venue and a return to three others that were not used in 2009, giving more people the chance to experience netball at its best.
 
Highlights of the 2010 ANZ Championship draw include:

  • A mouth watering Round One of match ups, including the new look Northern Mystics taking on last year's Grand Finalists the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Auckland for the season opener. Round one concludes with arch-rivals the Melbourne Vixens playing host to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic at Hisense Arena in Melbourne, in a rematch of the 2009 First Semi Final.
  • The debut of ANZ Championship netball on the Gold Coast in Queensland, when the Queensland Firebirds will host the NSW Swifts at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
  • The competition will also return to three venues not used in 2009 with games being held in Newcastle, Napier and at Sydney's premier netball facility, Acer Arena.
  • In a rematch of the 2009 Grand Final, the Melbourne Vixens will meet the Adelaide Thunderbirds at ETSA Park in Round 9.
  • After the success of the inaugural Rivalry Round last year, where over 500 goals were scored across the five matches and the final margin came down to just nine goals in Australia's favour, the concept will return in 2010, to be contested across Round 11.

Once again, all matches will be available live on SKY Sport for New Zealand viewers, and also on Channel Ten and ONE HD for Australian fans.
 
The top four teams after the home and away series will contest the ANZ Championship Finals Series from June 27 2010

PLease click on the link below to download the 2010 ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW

http://www.anz-championship.com/newsitem.asp