Netball: Van Dyk dreams of repeat

Irene van Dyk celebrates after the Silver Ferns won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Photo / Brett Phibbs

One of the enduring images of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games was the look of pure delight on the face of evergreen shooter Irene van Dyk as she hurled the ball skyward following the final whistle in the Silver Ferns' 60-55 gold medal netball win over Australia.

Four years on, and just days away from New Zealand's title defence at the New Delhi Games, van Dyk still remembers that moment vividly: the tension, the endless ear-battering noise, and the sheer elation at stealing the Australians' Commonwealth Games title off them on their home soil.

"We had the whole of the New Zealand contingent in the stadium, and they made such a big noise it sounded like there were more of our people there than Australians," van Dyk remembered.

"Just that feeling when that whistle blew and we knew we'd actually nailed it - it was such an incredible feeling. It would be a dream come true to get that again."

The Silver Ferns' focus on defending their title in New Delhi has been all-consuming this year - tests against Samoa, Jamaica and Australia have been won and lost, but the long-term view of another Commonwealth Games gold has always been the target.

"It would be something we've been working towards so hard - we've been working our butts off for the last 18 months," van Dyk told NZPA.

"It's been a long time coming. If you think of all the preparation we've done, and all the work we've put in, it would just be the cherry on top."

As always, there is very little between the two archrivals - Australia won the recent three-test series 2-1, taking five and six-goal wins over New Zealand's one 19-goal victory.

Five of the Australian squad which fell to New Zealand in 2006 are back to exact revenge in New Delhi, including captain Sharelle McMahon, influential midcourter Natalie von Bertouch and towering goal keep Susan Fuhrmann.

Seven of the Silver Ferns' Melbourne Games 12-strong squad return, with experience right through the court, from defenders Casey Williams, Anna Scarlett and Leana de Bruin through midcourters Temepara George and Laura Langman to shooters van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.

But even with such an experienced line-up, van Dyk said the New Zealanders were taking nothing for granted.

The Silver Ferns' two big wins over Jamaica in August have been firmly discounted, with the Sunshine Girls a different team against England in Jamaica in early September.

The return of captain Simone Forbes and star defender Althea Byfield boosted the team as they bounced back from a first-up 11-goal loss with a 52-45 second test win over 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medalists England.

Van Dyk has also been impressed by the shooting of yet another towering Jamaican shooter in 21-year-old Jhanelle Fowler (crct), who matches incumbent Romelda Aiken for height at 1.96m, and proved more accurate against England.

It is England, however, who van Dyk singles out as particularly dangerous.

"I reckon England would be the wild card, the outside horse," van Dyk said.

"I definitely do not under-estimate them. England will be our first obstacle and our biggest obstacle. We need to beat England first.

"I personally am one that will never take the English lightly, because they are a brilliant team. They have some incredible players, they are pure athletes."

England have been further steeled by exposure to top-level netball in the trans-Tasman league, with players such as Sonia Mkoloma, Geva Mentor, Jade Clarke and Pamela Cookey having shone in recent years.

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken is also wary of England, especially given their recent tendency to topple the once-unbeatable Silver Ferns.

"They're a team that really know each other very well, and they're very confident in their own style," she told NZPA. "They've found what works for them, and it works well."

England's short-passing, low-turnover game through the midcourt is consistently finished off with Louisa Brownfield's accurate shooting, with youngster Jo Harten also developing her game well, and the athletic Cookey a superb organiser at goal attack.

Sooner or later, however, the Silver Ferns will have to beat Australia if they want another Commonwealth Games gold medal and after months of preparation, Aitken for one can't wait for her team to hit the court.

"In terms of on-court learning, our build-up matches have been invaluable, and I feel really confident we are where we need to be," she said.

"There's a bit more work to be done, but a competition like this is a lot about getting on the court and making it happen."

- NZPA