Netball: Silver Fern has top reason to smile

By RICHARD BOOCK

Apart from the black one-piece, New Zealand netballer Tania Nicholson will be wearing something distinctly different from her team-mates when she makes her international comeback next week - a smile.

The 28-year-old Force goal-attack has been rushed into the Silver Ferns squad as a replacement for the unavailable Donna Loffhagen, rekindling a test career which began and ended with one cap back in 1996.

As the rest of the Ferns lick their wounds in the wake of Tuesday's 23-goal hammering at Newcastle, Nicholson is set to join the squad in a somewhat lighter mood after a strong Coca-Cola Cup season and a belated international recall.

She was initially called in to play against South Africa in 1996 after an earlier injury to Loffhagen, but only lasted 20 minutes before suffering an ankle problem and was not able to break back into the squad.

"Looking back, I'm sure I wasn't ready last time," Nicholson said. "In comparison, I feel far tougher now, and more comfortable about what I'm here for - and how I should go about it.

"I wasn't expecting this. You never think you're going to get back in, but I had a really enjoyable Coca-Cola Cup, and I guess relaxing a bit has helped the mental side of my game."

Nicholson, who is engaged to marry New Zealand surf lifesaving representative Dwayne Dalton next year, shot 86 per cent for the Force in round-robin play, slotting in at goal-attack to form a handy shooting combination with Teresa Tairi.

Her call-up means New Zealand's 11-strong squad now contains only one specialist goal-shoot in van Dyk, although coach Yvonne Willering has the option of playing Adine Harper or Nicholson in the shoot position if needed.