Defender Scarlett attacks allegations of over-vigorous play

Young Rebels star Anna Scarlett has rubbished accusations of over-physical play levelled at her and Otago netball team-mate Stephanie Bond.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua claimed Scarlett and Bond had "battered" shooter Irene van Dyk in a match between her side and the Rebels in Dunedin on Sunday.

Taurua suggested the Rebels could have an advantage in Friday's semifinal against the Southern Sting if their defenders were treated leniently by the umpires.

Scarlett said last night that she was disappointed by the comments.

"It was a tough game but it went both ways," she said.

"It actually seemed like Steph and I were getting called for everything in the second half.

"Irene is a tough player to defend. She stretches out her legs and actually takes up your space, so when you run into each other it looks like you're the one at fault."

Scarlett, 20, who has enjoyed a remarkable rise in fortunes since debuting for the Rebels last season, said she had no plans to change her energetic style of play.

"I don't think I'm a dirty player at all. My style of game is to go for the ball and I'm not going to change that," she said.

"Sometimes a defender can accidentally catch a player but I don't go out there intending to do that."

Taurua's comments were something of a surprise considering it was Scarlett, not the loftier van Dyk, who was thrown to the deck several times in the game against the Magic.

Scarlett knows she and Bond will have to be at their best to shut down outstanding Sting shooters Tania Dalton and Donna Loffhagen in the semifinal.

"We're looking forward to it. We had a good game against them last time and we'd like to build on that."

Meanwhile, former Capital Shakers captain Gail Parata said it was unacceptable for a Wellington team to finish below the top four and everyone involved with the Shakers' disastrous campaign must take the blame.

Parata, who captained the Shakers in 2001, represented Wellington for nine years and coached them for two years, was saddened and surprised to see the Shakers slump to second-to-last in the National Bank Cup.

She is concerned the poor result may have serious implications following a Netball New Zealand review of the National Bank Cup.

"Now we hear that they might be cutting it [the competition] to six teams. Is it the top six that get chosen? If that's the rumour, then we're out. And that's just unthinkable for Wellington," Parata said.

It was the worst result for the Shakers since the league started in 1998, and followed a semifinal appearance and fourth placing last year.

"I honestly believe that Wellington ... should never be out of that top four," Parata said. "That is my only concern, and I hate seeing that happening."

Apart from the board, Parata believes the Shakers' players, management and new coach Maria Lynch must all be accountable.

"There's blame all round. If I was the coach and we got second-to-last, I'd take responsibility," she said.

To succeed next season, the franchise need to secure some top players or bring back those it lost.

"We don't want one-year wonders," Parata said. "If they're going to bring in players they have to lock them in for a few years."


- NZPA