Counties Manukau Cometz

Counties Manukau Cometz, are a former New Zealand netball team that were based in Papatoetoe, Auckland. Cometz represented the Counties Manukau/Thames Valley regions of South Auckland and, as a result, were also known as CMTV Cometz. Between 1998 and 2003, they played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league.

Counties Manukau Cometz
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Disbanded2003; 21 years ago (2003)
Based inPapatoetoe
RegionCounties Manukau/Thames Valley
Home venueAllan Brewster Stadium
LeagueCoca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup

Uniform

Uniform

History

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Inaugural season

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In 1998, together with Auckland Diamonds, Bay of Plenty Magic, Capital Shakers, Canterbury Flames, Northern Force, Otago Rebels, Waikato Wildcats, Southern Sting and Western Flyers, Cometz were founding members of the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league.[1][2] Cometz represented the Counties Manukau/Thames Valley regions of South Auckland and, as a result, were also known as CMTV Cometz. Their first head coach was future New Zealand national netball team head coach Ruth Aitken.[3][4][5]

Six seasons

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Between 1998 and 2003, Cometz played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league.[1][6][7][8][9][10] Together with Auckland Diamonds and Northern Force, Cometz were one of three teams from the Auckland Region to play in the league. Due to poor ticket sales, the three teams faced early suggestions that they should merge.[11][12] Cometz also found themselves competing for players against Diamonds, Force and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.[13] Cometz enjoyed a local rivalry with Diamonds. In the six seasons the teams played against each other, Diamonds won four and Cometz won two.[14]

Demise

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After losing 80–29 to Southern Sting in a 2003 Round 1 match, Cometz began to face calls for them to drop out of the league.[10][13] In May 2003, following an independent report on the league by Price Waterhouse Coopers, Netball New Zealand confirmed that Cometz would be dropped from the league.[5][15][16]

Legacy

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In 2017 the Comets name was revived when Northern Comets began competing in the National Netball League. Comets are effectively the reserve team of Northern Stars, who represent South Auckland in the ANZ Premiership. During the 2022 ANZ Premiership season, Stars paid tribute to Counties Manukau Cometz by wearing a replica of their famous dress during their Heritage Round match against Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.[5][17][18]

Home venues

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Cometz played the majority of their home matches at Papatoetoe's Allan Brewster Stadium.[14][19][20][21]

Notable former players

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Internationals

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  New Zealand
  Samoa
  Cook Islands

ANZ Premiership coaches

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Others

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Source:[3][5][22][23][24]

Captains

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Years
Gael Nagaiya[19] 1999
Temepara George[25] 2000
Roxanne Chatterton[13][26] 2003
Leonie Matoe[13][26] 2003

Coaches

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Head coaches

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Coach Years
Ruth Aitken[3][4] 1998–2000
Tabitha Beaumont[27][28] 2001
Jan Lundon[28][29] 2002
Ana Noovao[26] 2003

Assistant coaches

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Coach Years
Gael Nagaiya[19] 2000

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sting History 1998". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Celebrating 25 years of elite netball". anzpremiership.co.nz. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Netball: Tall timber boost for Cometz side". www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Netball: Aitken to step down from Ferns". www.odt.co.nz. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "Stars and Cometz align to mark ANZ Premiership Heritage Round". www.starsnetball.co.nz. 31 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Sting History 1999". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Sting History 2000". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Sting History 2001". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Sting History 2002". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Sting History 2003". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Netball: Coca-Cola Cup has lost its fizz for Auckland". www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  12. ^ "ANZ Premiership: Mystics dedicate grand final win to late Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth". stuff.co.nz. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d "Netball: Cometz stand strong". www.nzherald.co.nz. 29 March 2003. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Netball: Diamonds scratch up 8-goal win". www.nzherald.co.nz. 25 April 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Netball: Cometz cut as Cup competition streamlined". www.nzherald.co.nz. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Netball: Cometz look at options after crashing to earth". www.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Netball: Northern Stars hold off late charge from Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic". www.nzherald.co.nz. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Robinhood Stars muscle past Magic for important home victory". www.starsnetball.co.nz. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  19. ^ a b c "Netball: Overseas imports spice national league". www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  20. ^ "The Cometz team talk at half time". www.photosport.nz. 5 April 2002. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Netball: Cometz look for a high-flying year". www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Netball: Time-out ends as stars return to the courts in droves". www.nzherald.co.nz. 1 November 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Netball – (2001) Coca-Cola Cup Squads". www.nzherald.co.nz. 3 November 2000. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Netball – (2001) Coca-Cola Cup Squads". www.nzherald.co.nz. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Netball: Cometz withstand fiery Force". www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  26. ^ a b c "Netball: Looking to blaze off the bottom". www.nzherald.co.nz. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Netball: Little agreement on competition's standout players". www.nzherald.co.nz. 6 May 2001. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Netball: Willering signs coaching role for Cometz". www.nzherald.co.nz. 1 February 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Netball: Force still unbeaten but Otago Rebels spring surprise". www.nzherald.co.nz. 3 May 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2023.