PLAYING netball obviously broadens the mind.

Of the Leighton club members, Theresa Gear is an enthusiastic amateur opera singer, Ella Roberts loves to fly her hot air balloon, Erica Langley trains a pet snake called Tiger, while Lia Chance has a thing about elephants!

Gear is a teaching assistant for Mansell Junior School and has been playing netball all her life while Roberts, a nurse for two years, has been playing netball for eight.

Langley is a PE teacher at Hardley School who is also into aerobics while Chance is currently Marwell Zoo's elephant keeper of the year. She reckons it's a job that toughens her up for netball.

Of her other teammates, Barbara Swyer has been playing for 30 years, while Kath Hield is a keen basketball member, currently playing for Solent Stars. She is another PE teacher who loves watching ballet.

Alex Baker, head of maths at Redbridge Secondary School. likes the theatre, while Linda Leggett is an ornithologist.

Whether or not their minds were on other things, Leighton lost 36-22 in the game I recently saw them play - againt Titan.

Titan have a good balance in the squad and play tight netball. It was a nice, clean game and both teams enjoyed it and it was nice to see Leighton being stretched as it will improve them to make them stronger - even though Titan did not have a full-strength team.

Titan have a man to thank for their goal shooter, Andrea White, a nurse at Southampton General. Fiance Tony saw them training and asked if Andrea could play. She's been with them ever since.

Goal attack Paula Arnold works for Salisbury council, while wing attack and new recruit Kate Rabjohn works for an insulation company and currently travels from Winchester to play in Southampton.

Centre Tessa Player is an English teacher at Kings School, Winchester, wing defence Claire Butler a PE teacher at Toynbee School Eastleigh and a county volleyball player and goal defence Jo Patrick, 21, a university student.

Goalkeeper Chrissie Lewis has just been appointed the new PE teacher at Crestwood School Eastleigh. while squad member Lucy Couch is joining the police.

Sue Couch is their yoga-loving loudmouth coach who gets sent off the sideline.

Other backbone players are Karen Roberson, Tracey Caldwell and Jill Haymer.