Alison Preston-Thomas

Alison Ruth Preston-Thomas (née Hughes; 25 November 1927 – 31 January 2020) was a New Zealand netball player. She played in the New Zealand team in all three Tests against the touring Australian team in 1948.

Early life Preston-Thomas was born Alison Ruth Hughes on 25 November 1927. She was educated at Avonside Girls' High School in Christchurch, where she was senior tennis champion in 1945. She trained as a teacher at the Dunedin Training College in 1949.

Netball career Hughes was a stalwart of the Canterbury provincial netball team for many years, including a period as captain of the side. She was described as a "particularly bright exponent of the game", with her "speed and handling being first-rate". Subsequently, she was chosen as one of the two players to appear in all three Test matches against Australia in 1948. In the second Test in New Plymouth, New Zealand lost 13–44, although it was said that Hughes' play "would have been brilliant but for the sterling defence work by the Australians". The third Test in Auckland was won by Australia, 44–22.

In 1949, Hughes was part of the Otago team that finished third at the national provincial championships, and was said to be in "excellent form" in the match to decide third place against Wellington that was won by Otago 17–10.

Hughes was back playing for Canterbury at the 1950 national championships, with Canterbury beating Auckland in the final 22–7. She was subsequently named in the South Island team for the interisland match, which was won by the South Island 17–16. Alison Preston-Thomas died in Wellington on 31 January 2020, aged 92.