Netball: Davu has chance to impress national selectors

By RICHARD BOOCK

The New Zealand netball selectors' decision to overlook the claims of Fijian star Vilimaina Davu will come under more scrutiny tonight when the Silver Ferns square off against Team Pasifika.

Considered, but not required, by the national panel, the 1.90m Davu is set to resume a fascinating battle with new Silver Fern Irene van Dyk when she leads the composite side in the first of two matches against the world's second seeds in the Fisher and Paykel series.

The 23-year-old goal-keep was in outstanding form for the Flames in this year's Coca-Cola Cup and capped her season with a match-deciding defensive effort against van Dyk in the tournament semifinal.

Davu, who captained Fiji at last year's world championships, will have a chance to impress the selectors not only while playing for Team Pasifika, but also while turning out for the World Selection in the three upcoming international fixtures against New Zealand.

She announced her availability for the Silver Ferns this month, and apparently went close to a call-up before the panel opted to retain Bernice Mene and Linda Vagana.

"I'm there if they want me," Davu said yesterday. "A lot of good things have happened to me since I started playing in New Zealand, and I think [selection] is something that's possible after a lot of hard work.

"My netball's improved a lot since I came here, and the idea now is to play well and enjoy my time with Pasifika and the World side, and to follow that up with a strong campaign for the Flames next year."

Just a 14-year-old when she competed at the world youth (under-21) championships in 1992, Davu's tussle with van Dyk will be one of the features of tonight's showdown at the ASB Stadium, while the standard of New Zealand's transition game will also be under the microscope after last week's surrender to Australia at Newcastle.

However, whatever deficiencies were exposed in New Zealand's game then, Pasifika coach Te Aroha Keenan is anxious to play down suggestions of an upset this evening, and says she will be happy to see her side play an attractive and competitive brand of netball.

"I don't think the Aussies did us any favours," she said yesterday. "The Ferns really have something to prove now and we've only been together for a couple of days, so I think it's unrealistic to be talking of an upset.

"But we're determined to be competitive, and to carry all the Pacific flair and initiative on to the court. We won't be pulling back on anything. We'll give it a go, give it out best shot, and enjoy ourselves."

Keenan said there was an air of excitement in the Pasifika camp, not only because of the involvement in the series, but also because most of the Island players had already competed against each other in South Pacific competitions and looked forward to playing together as a team.

"When we assembled, they were all saying, 'Oh, I'm glad I'm playing with you this time instead of against you.' There's a lot of excitement."

New Zealand: Bernice Mene (captain),Linda Vagana, Belinda Charteris, Anna Veronese, Lesley Nicol, Julie Seymour, Temepara George, Anna Rowberry, Tania Nicholson, Adine Harper, Irene van Dyk.

Team Pasifika:Vilimaina Davu (captain), Ruta Tai, Lisa Bogiwalu, Amanda Dunlop, Sheryl Clarke (vice-captain), Melissa Fotu, Anna Tai, Irene Forbes, Monica Gabriel, Angela Maoate, Teresa Tairi, Jenny-May Coffin, Frances Solia.