Netball: Ill-fated Coffin left wondering after latest mishap

By Suzanne McFadden

For the third time Silver Fern Jenny-May Coffin has been shot down by injuries on the eve of a test series.

Her latest problem has been a calf muscle tear in her left leg suffered while training for this walkover series against South Africa.

Coffin sat out the last two tests, but has been given the all-clear for tomorrow night's final match in Auckland.

The Hamilton police constable cannot believe her bad luck. When she was first chosen for the Ferns, in 1997, she tore her right calf 10 days before she was to fly to England.

When she was reselected for New Zealand at the start of this season, Coffin dislocated a shoulder in her first test in Jamaica.

"The first time I thought, 'Well, that's my international career over.' But I'm still here," she said. "I started training full-on again on Friday and my leg's healed a lot quicker than I thought it would."

Coffin is the only player on the 12-strong New Zealand bench who has not had court-time in this series.

Nineteen-year-old Adine Harper made her debut for the Ferns at goal shoot in the final quarter on Saturday night, guided by her Otago Rebels captain, Belinda Colling.

"Adine was really funny," Colling laughed. "She got the fright of her life when she was told at the last break that she was going on. The face looking back at us was absolutely white."

Harper had a shaky start under the post, scoring five of her 11 shots, but Colling praised her movement around the circle.

South Africa's new shooter, Rusky Mthethwa, was equally nervous - scoring seven off 11 in her three quarters on court. But she was one of the bright spots in an otherwise bewildered Proteas side, combining well with the "Queen of Soweto," wing attack Manzo Machoga.

Proteas coach Bennie Saayman said Mthethwa, a former South African schools captain, brought "calmness to the circle."

Lorna Suafoa made her return to international play at goal keep - her first cap since last year's Commonwealth Games - while former captains Bernice Mene and Lesley Nicol chalked up their 50th tests.

And, for the record, 82-39 was New Zealand's highest score - and biggest winning margin - over a South African netball side.