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LAUNCESTON has savoured its latest taste of international sport with an impressive turnout for a netball world cup warm-up match at the Silverdome.
After match organisers had hoped for a combined audience of 1000 between yesterday's matches at either end of the state, the North almost reached the figure by itself to see Australia's Centre of Excellence players win a see-saw encounter against the world's eighth-ranked side, Wales.
Both coaches were full of praise for the turnout and the versatile venue, with Netball Tasmania also delighted with the outcome.
"It's a really positive show of support by sports fans in the North," the state body's communications manager Luke Gaetani said.
"It's important to get behind events like this. The venue has certainly shown it is capable of staging them, and the public has shown it will come to the Silverdome to support them."
With a crowd swelled by hundreds of players from the Northern Tasmanian Netball Association's junior competition - nearly all wearing puffer jackets - the occasion cemented netball's distinction as the most popular female sport in Australia.
It also further boosted the credentials of a venue that has previously staged elite cycling, boxing and indoor hockey, and such diverse entertainment as Disney on Ice, Lord of the Dance, Targa Expo, ballroom dancing, Elton John, Meatloaf and the Wiggles.
Clearly impressed by the speed, transition and ball skills on show, the crowd saw Wales overturn a first-quarter deficit to lead 27-20 at the main break before the CofE outfit stormed through the second half to win 54-42.
Centre Hulita Haukinima, of Queensland, was named player of the match, although Wales goalkeeper Rosie Pretorius also had an outstanding game.
Wales goal shooter Chelsea Lewis top scored with 27 goals, while CofE counterpart Kristina Brice's 16 came at the impressive percentage of 88.9.
Wales coach Trish Wilcox was disappointed with her team's second half but said it provided clear lessons to take into further warm-up games in Hobart and the World Cup in Sydney.
"Launceston has been wonderful and we've been beautifully hosted by Netball Tasmania," she said.
"We've really appreciated the support we've received while we've been here and the venue is very good. We've enjoyed playing and training here. The surface is fantastic and it's been great to have this crowd and emulate what we are going to experience in Sydney.
"We certainly have not got venues of this standard in Wales. We'd love to have a venue with this capacity."
Opposing coach Nicole Richardson agreed.
"The venue is fantastic and so was the turnout from Launceston on a wet Thursday night at 5pm," she said. "It's really great to see them get behind this and it makes it exciting for the girls to play in front of a crowd.
"We were really pleased with our effort. The group has been thrown together but has been really competitive and grown in confidence, knowing they can match it with the best in the world.
"To have a 19-goal turnaround against the eighth-ranked team in the world is very pleasing."