Netball: Willering to coach Northern Force

Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering is back in business in New Zealand netball, as coach of the Northern Force team in next season's national league.

Willering, who lost her job as national coach last year to Ruth Aitken, takes over from Maria Lynch for the North Shore franchise.

Willering took Northern Force to the NPC title in 1997 and had been sought by several other franchises for next year's National Bank Cup competition.

Lynch will stay with Netball North until the end of the national championship programme, which began with a series of derby fixtures last weekend.

Willering is expected to continue to coach the Fijian national side.

Netball North had a grim day against Counties and Manukau, not only being crushed 62-37 at Allen Brewster Stadium in Papatoetoe, but losing Silver Ferns shooter Daneka Wipiiti before the game when she damaged a wrist falling down stairs. She is to see a specialist today. Willering is expected to continue to coach the Fijian national side. It is understood that Willering will continue to coach the Fijian national side.