Netball: Ferns beat Diamonds
The Silver Ferns have struck the first blow in the Constellation Cup, beating the Australian Diamonds 55-51 at the Velodrome in Invercargill tonight.
The Silver Ferns have struck the first blow in the Constellation Cup, beating the Australian Diamonds 55-51 at the Velodrome in Invercargill tonight.
The contest between the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds has become the greatest rivalry in transtasman sport - and probably one of the closest on the planet - and there are no signs of that changing in the near future.
Their partnership has been one of the most celebrated in Silver Ferns history but new assistant coach Vicki Wilson believes she can take Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia to new heights.
Stress in the newly established netball zones is mounting as the sport suffers major growing pains after Netball New Zealand's radical overhaul last year.
Grace Rasmussen has emerged as a major target of the Magic - and they appear to have sealed the signature of another Silver Fern, as their 2014 squad finally comes together.
Say it quietly, as Netball New Zealand most certainly will, but new Silver Ferns midcourter Courtney Tairi is the netball version of James Tamou or Quade Cooper.
The future of several top-name Silver Ferns is expected to be revealed this week as transtasman league franchises scramble to get their line-ups in place.
Doubt has been cast over the validity of the Magic's 2012 ANZ Championship title.
Twelve months ago Courtney Tairi and Katarina Cooper were taking their first painful steps along the long road to rehabilitation after suffering serious knee injuries.
Tipped for stardom as a teenager, Otaki's Katarina Cooper all but disappeared from the netballing landscape eight years ago.
The Silver Ferns selectors will be looking closely at some of the under-21 shooters in camp next week as they rebuild depth in their shooting end.
Given her age, Irene van Dyk's homecoming switch to the Pulse should really be a last stand.
The Magic appear no closer to announcing any big name signings for the 2014 transtasman league season following the high-profile departures of Laura Langman and Irene van Dyk.
The defection of Magic stars Laura Langman and Irene van Dyk has set in motion an intriguing player merry-go-round in the transtasman league.
Australian Diamonds vice-captain Catherine Cox could replace Irene van Dyk at the Magic.