By JULIE ASH
The national selectors have been dealt another blow with North Harbour shooting star Tania Dalton declaring herself unavailable for the Silver Ferns.
The 30-year-old was a contender to fill the gap left by Southern Sting team-mate Donna Loffhagen, who last week said she was taking a break from international netball.
Dalton, who has an 11-month-old daughter Tayla, said her priorities had changed and it was too difficult trying to juggle her commitments.
"I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she said.
"Now I can just play. I knew if on the off-chance that I did make the New Zealand squad the commitments would have been too much.
"I just want to spend more time with Tayla now."
Dalton said she knew that with Loffhagen out of the picture she could have earned a place in the New Zealand squad for next year's world championships in Jamaica.
"I have been in and out of the team but I feel like I have had a good stint and I am a bit over the hill now," she said.
"Donna has left a pretty big hole in the team but there are plenty of players like Angela Evans and Jodi Te Huna who are coming through."
Dalton made the Silver Ferns in 1995 and played her first game against South Africa in 1996.
Her return to the team in 2000/01 was cut short by pregnancy.
She is playing for Southland in the national provincial championships in Palmerston North this week.
"I am still going to play for the Sting next year. I really enjoyed my time with them this year and I would really like to win another title with them."
Netball: Star shooter rules herself out for Silver Ferns
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