Netball: Champion Mene set for the final blast

By JULIE ASH

Chances are the curtain will drop on the career of Silver Fern great Bernice Mene tonight, when the final whistle sounds in the national league final in Invercargill.

Although the former Silver Ferns' captain has said she will not be making a decision on her future until she has spoken to the Southern Sting franchise, it is likely the match against the Flames will be her last.

Mene retired from international netball this year, but has continued to play for the Sting in the league where she has shown she is still the best goal defence in the game.

"I think subconsciously I have less pressure on me.

"Robyn Broughton [the Sting coach] said to me the other day that I really look like I am enjoying playing, and I am," the 27 year-old said.

"This league is all I have to concentrate on."

Mene said she had not really thought about the final possibly being her last game.

"I have a couple of sore knees at the moment, so I want to wait for a while to make my decision, so it is not an emotional one,"

Her international career began in 1992 when she made the New Zealand team as a 17-year-old from Christchurch's Villa Maria College.

Since then she has played 78 games for New Zealand, captaining the team for the past two years.

Although she would listen with interest to hear who had made the national team to play Barbados when it was announced on Tuesday, Mene said she had no regrets about retiring from international level.

"I have had a few injuries and sore knees and I am looking forward to playing the final and then sitting down and putting my feet up for a while."

Her involvement with Southland netball began in the 1996, when she was offered a job there as a coaching development officer.

"Many people thought I was silly going down there, but the reason I went was [former Silver Fern] Sandra Edge.

"She had gone there and Waimarama Taumaunu told me she [Sandra] absolutely loved it."

Mene played for the Rata club in the then national club league and has stayed with the Sting - the most successful team since the league's inception in 1998 - since.

They have made the final every year, winning it for the past three years.

Many claim the Sting's success is because they have the money to lure top players to their side, but Mene says a team full of stars does not necessarily mean a champion side.

"You know where you stand in the team and what is expected of you.

"It is almost a professional sort of attitude. We've all got such diverse personalities, but everyone is extremely talented," said Mene, who now works at Sport Auckland and is involved with Knowledge Breakfast, a television programme.

"When the team get together we stay in the same hotel and we do everything to plan.

"Robyn has everything so well structured. There is just a good working environment."

Which is almost surprising considering at least four of the team do not even live in Southland.

Mene and shooter Tania Dalton go down from Auckland once a week and Adine Harper and Lesley Nicol travel from Dunedin, which is a lot different to many of the teams who train together several times a week.

"When we get together it is real quality training, which has probably worked to our benefit," she said.

"When we train we really put ourselves under pressure.

"But a lot of time is spent on individual training, which after 10 years of international netball in a bit of a luxury."

To win thetitle, the Sting have to douse the Flames - a side with six Silver Ferns - who started slowly but have now reached their peak.

The Sting beat the Flames 53-47 in round eight this year. In the last two league finals they have beaten the Flames by just three goals.

"They have got a lot of height in their defence, so it will be an even match-up with our shooters," Mene said.

"But they are one team who I would say have strength throughout the court.

"Julie Seymour is obviously the key player in the midcourt, and in the shooting end it will be a matter of stopping them flicking the ball around."

A fourth national league title would be a great send-off for Mene.

"We are just working towards playing the perfect game. We have won the title three times before but we'd like to win it again."

Which would be a perfect end to what most would agree has been pretty much a perfect career.