Netball: Pair pressure for sisters

Laura and Natalie von Bertouch don't waste time on politeness - they're sisters. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Australia has more than a million netball players.

The national team consist of just 12 players and two of them from Adelaide's von Bertouch family - 25 year-old Laura and 23 year-old Natalie.

It is understood they are not the first sisters to play for Australia but are certainly the first wing attack/centre combination to have rattled the Silver Ferns in recent times.

The nippy pair, who play for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, were relentless in the second test in July, tearing through the New Zealand defence like tornadoes.

"It is no secret that as an Australian team one of our strengths is speed on the ball, when we did that our game was good enough to win," Laura says.

The von Bertouches (pronounced von Ber-toe) started playing netball at primary school.

"We were always bugging Dad to come out and throw the ball at us. We probably weren't that good friends then," Laura laughs.

"There were more fights than friendly chats but nowadays we don't live together any more.

"We just see each other every night [at trainings] not day and night."

The pair have a younger brother and their father, Terry, was a notable AFL player for South Australia. He finished playing before Laura was born.

"We never got to watch him play but we always have people telling us that he was a reasonably good player, which is nice - you are always proud of your parents when they have done things before you came along."

Natalie was the first to make the Australian team. A specialist centre, she was named in the side to face the Silver Ferns in Australia in 2004, where she made her debut in the third test which Australia won 53-51.

Laura, a specialist wing attack, made her debut two years later, also against New Zealand. Her side lost that match 52-40 but went on to win the second test 48-38.

Laura could have been a contender in the side earlier but was forced to have reconstructive knee surgery in 2004.

"It was really exciting [when Natalie got in]. I was really happy for her.

"She is a much stronger centre and I am definitely a stronger wing attack. So there is not that much competition between us."

Laura says that joining the Australian side was easier with Natalie already there.

"It was an absolute privilege to play netball for Australia with your sister and something that I will always cherish for sure."

She said her own debut was a real eye-opener.

"New Zealand play a slightly different style to Australia. I had played against some New Zealand age-group teams but it was a totally different intensity. It was amazing to be out there.

"We really admire the Kiwi midcourt, they have a lot of experience and a lot of success, so it is always very exciting to be out there and have the opportunity to play against them.

"But at the same time we feel that our game is good enough when we put it all together."

Laura believes being sisters gives her and Natalie a slight advantage on court.

"We have more of a natural understanding. You develop that with players you play with regularly anyway but it comes more naturally being sisters. The thing I have found which has been the major benefit is being able to be really honest and call it how it is.

"On court you can just say, 'Stop that, it is not working'."

In other words, if things aren't going to plan, there is no hesitation in one von Bertouch giving the other a rev-up.

"You don't have to worry about the politeness so much. You get the job done a bit more."

NATALIE VON BERTOUCH

Born: December 16, 1982
Height: 1.75m
Positions: WA, C
Caps: 16 (as of 11.10.06)

Career highlights:
* 2002-06: Australian squad
* 2001-06: Adelaide Thunderbirds.

LAURA VON BERTOUCH

Born: December 4, 1980
Positions: WA, C
Height: 1.67m
Caps: 2 (as at 11.10.06)

Career highlights:
* 2003, 05-06 Australian squad
* 1999-2006: Adelaide Thunderbirds.