Netball: Exuberant Shakers overpower champs

Enthusiasm overcame experience yesterday as the Capital Shakers upset national netball league champions Southern Sting 51-48.

Roared on by a sellout Wellington crowd of more than 3000, the Shakers turned in their best performance of the season to down a Sting team boasting four Silver Ferns and a South African international.

Shooting star Irene van Dyk was again in the thick of the action for the Shakers, netting 35 goals from 39 attempts. But the foundation for the stunning win was laid at the other end of court, where goalkeep Lisa Bogiwalu, goal defence Debbie Matoe and wing defence Natasha Bergin were outstanding.

After starting strongly, the Shakers led 15-9 at the first break, 26-24 at halftime and 39-35 at three-quarter mark. They then held out a stirring Sting rally in the last 15 minutes as shooter Donna Loffhagen scored 11 goals from 11 attempts to take her overall tally to 33 from 36.

Three times the Shakers led by seven goals and only once, just before halftime, did they surrender the lead.





The win puts the Shakers in second place on 13 points, three behind leaders R'toto Force, who beat the CMTV Cometz 59-33 in Pukekohe.

Waikato/BOP Magic are third after their 56-51 win over the Auckland Diamonds, with the Canterbury Flames, who toppled the Otago Rebels 54-44, sitting fourth.

In Rotorua, the Magic were ahead at the end of each quarter - by three at halftime and just one going into the final 15 minutes - in an often scrappy match.

The Magic centre, Silver Fern Jenny-May Coffin, showed no signs of the back injury that kept her off the court for the first three rounds. She and wing defence Vicki Edward, who had an outstanding game, made good gains through the midcourt.

Young Diamonds defender Rachel Rasmussen got some great turnovers and did a lot of work.

The result is bad news for the Georgina Salter-coached Diamonds, who are sixth on five points, seven adrift of the fourth and final playoff spot.