Netball: Sting in wars as Force hopes rise

By RICHARD BOOCK

The Sting and the Force have received dramatically different injury reports ahead of tonight's national netball league semifinal in Invercargill.

Sting, the defending champion, will be forced to start a slightly altered attacking line after losing Kirsty Broughton with a calf tear injury.

They have responded to concerns over their shooting circle by rushing in former Silver Fern Julie Carter as cover.

Carter, who made her New Zealand debut in 1986 and officially retired seven years ago, had a fairytale comeback in last season's final against the Otago Rebels and has remained registered with the southerners for the 2000 season.

The Sting have also lost goal-shoot Debbie Munroe with a broken ankle, while Silver Fern Donna Loffhagen has been struggling with injury and illness.

They are left with regular goal-shoot Janine Topia, back-up shoot Rachel Gill and utility-attack Kate Newson as the only fully fit shooting options.

Newson will almost certainly start at wing-attack, which places more of a squeeze on the shooting circle and undoubtedly prompted an SOS call to the 34-year-old Carter.

On the other hand, the Force arrived in Invercargill last night with a full-strength squad after defender Kate Dowling's recovery from the leg injury which curtailed her contribution against the Sting at the North Shore Events Centre on Sunday.

The in-form Dowling was forced out of the game with a calf problem but has been cleared for tonight's showdown at Stadium Southland, which is expected to be bursting at the seams with close to 3500 patrons.

Dowling's return is seen as critical to the chances of the Force, whose first-half defence created problems for Southland last weekend, and provided goal-keep Linda Vagana with the chance to make life miserable for her opposite, Janine Topia.

"We're all fit, we've got a full squad and we reckon we've still got a great opportunity," coach Maria Lynch said yesterday.

"We blew it last week in the last quarter - which is quite unusual for us - and we know we can't afford to lapse like that if we want to win. "But we know what we need to do and in a sudden-death environment anything can happen."

To be successful against the Sting, Lynch said, it was important to slow their transition game, which the Force had managed for only two quarters.

In the other semifinal, the Canterbury Flames will host the Capital Shakers in Christchurch on Sunday.

vp+1.5Force: Teresa Tairi (capt), Tania Nicholson, Sharlene Smith, Temepara George, Sheryl Clarke, Kate Dowling, Linda Vagana, Elise Middleton, Anna Tai, Kathleen Lye, Elizabeth Dean, Vanessa Banbrook.

Sting: Bulou Rabuka, Jo Tapper, Bernice Mene (capt), Maria O'Neil, Michelle Krynen, Julie Carter.