1.00pm
Star shooter Donna Loffhagen has answered a call to join the Southland netball team at the national championships in Palmerston North after a sickening head clash resulted in a bloodied Adine Harper being rushed to hospital yesterday.
Silver Fern Harper was taken to Upper Hutt Hospital to get stitches to her head after a clash with teammate Emma Moynihan, who did not receive any cuts but has been told to rest for 24 hours.
Moynihan was able to eat some food after the incident and was not suffering any headaches.
The pair clashed less than 10 minutes into Southland's opening game against Counties and Manukau yesterday morning.
Southland won 60-37 and beat Eastern 34-31 in their second game but all the focus was on Harper and Moynihan's health.
Southland co-coach Colleen Bond said she had never seen a clash as gruesome in more than 30 years of top netball.
"It was ugly. It was right in front of us," Bond said. "You could hear the crack of heads. It wasn't nice and you wouldn't want to see it.
"Normally people have a bang and get up and carry on. But not this time."
Bond said the pair were striving for an intercept and did not see each other coming.
"Emma was coming up the sideline and Adine came from across the court," Bond explained.
"They collided, clashed heads and took each other out. So we had two Southland players floored on the court."
Harper was driven two hours to Upper Hutt Hospital by Netball Southland general manager Raewyn Penman in case any plastic surgery had to be performed.
It is understood no plastic surgery was needed.
"It's six weeks out from her wedding," Bond said. "So we just wanted to take her somewhere in case any mends were needed."
Harper's fiance, former Southland cricket and rugby star Jeff Wilson, flew from Christchurch to be by her side.
Harper's mother also drove down from New Plymouth.
Bond did not know if Harper would be able to play again at the tournament, which is why an approach was made to Loffhagen to join the squad.
Loffhagen had been with her parents near Christchurch and did not hesitate to join the team.
Loffhagen was to join the team in Palmerston North this morning and was to play against Tasman this afternoon.
Loffhagen had originally ruled herself out of the provincial tournament because she needed a break after a tough Olympic Games basketball campaign.
Harper returned to the team last night. The medical team had done a "super job" but it was unclear whether she would be fit to take the court today.
- NZPA
Netball: Loffhagen replaces hospitalised Harper
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