Netball: 'Kumaras' look for a bumper harvest

The Magic have retained their stars, including Irene van Dyk, but the defending champions won't take anybody by surprise this year.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua used the humble kumara as a way of motivating her team before they faced the more fancied Diamonds in their opening game last year.

"A kumara," Taurua told her side, "doesn't say how sweet it is, it knows it is sweet on the inside."

While she was referring to the hype surrounding the Diamonds, who many thought had the best chance of wresting the title off the Sting, the kumara analogy is a good way of describing the Waikato/Bay of Plenty team.

They have never been flashy or loaded with current and former Silver Ferns but have still managed to win the National Bank Cup - a feat only two other teams have completed since the competition began in 1998.

The Magic's success last year was the result of several factors, but the most significant were their self-belief and ability to retain exceptional players such as Laura Langman, Casey Williams and the world's best goal shoot, Irene van Dyk.

 

Whether or not that will be enough to secure them their second title is now the question.

While the Magic will go into the competition as favourites alongside the rejuvenated Sting, there is an element of doubt in two positions.

The loss of Anna Senio has left a hole at goal attack, while Williams' broken ankle means she will miss at least the first three weeks of competition.

Taurua is looking to Kiri Adams and Tanya Lund to fill Senio's shoes.

"We have set a new vision for ourselves. We have got a different team and new combinations," Taurua said.

"We have got to recognise and acknowledge the opposition but we really have to worry about us."

When asked if she was going to give her team another lecture about kumara ahead of their opening match against the Sting tomorrow, Taurua chuckled.

"At this stage I'll just wait and see what the feel is when we meet on Friday and what other vegetables I can come up with ... might be a stir-fry this year."

The recruitment of Belinda Colling was a major coup for the Sting, who have a knack of attracting the country's best players.

Although the side will miss the uncompromising Donna Loffhagen, who is set to take up a basketball contract in the United States, they have lured back former Australian international Natalie Avellino. She and Tania Dalton will give the side plenty of strength in and around the shooting circle.

Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson heads the midcourt with Lesley Rumball and former NZ Under-21 captain Wendy Telfer while Anna Galvan, Jenny Ferguson and Megan Hutton will provide a difficult barrier for their opposition.

With most of their players members of North Harbour's National Provincial Championship wining side, the Force have to be in with a chance.

Shooting has been a problem for the team in the past but the introduction of Australian goal attack Megan Dehn (nee Anderson) should alleviate that.

As well as shooting, the Force's success may come down to the performance of their new defensive combination, which features Lorna Suafoa, Leana de Bruin and Leigh Price.

One semifinal spot could go to either the Diamonds or the Flames. The Diamonds have had a disruptive buildup, losing goal attack Jodi Te Huna through injury and Kathryn Harby-Williams who is pregnant.

Defensively the side are sound with Stephanie Bond and Anna Scarlett and they have plenty of experience through the midcourt with Victoria Edward and Anna Rowberry. The performance of Silver Fern goal attack Maria Tutaia will go a long way to determining the side's fate.

Following their disappointing sixth placing in last year's competition, the Flames will be looking for an improvement this year. New to the side is former Force defender Kate Dowling while Julie Seymour makes a return to the midcourt after a year's absence.

The other three teams in the competition - the Rebels, the Flyers and the Shakers - are expected to struggle.

But taking into account that the Shakers are coached by Waimarama Taumaunu and the Flyers by Tanya Dearns - two Silver Ferns greats - don't expect either of those teams to struggle defensively.