Netball: A foot in more than one camp

By RICHARD BOOCK

Noeline Taurua has not so much divided her loyalties as multiplied them by three for next week's national netball championships

As well as pushing her claims for a Silver Fern recall, the 32-year-old will have her hands full helping Waikato to defend their first-division title in Hamilton and - just to stave off any remaining boredom - she will also coach second-division Bay of Plenty.

The Rotorua mum and 35-test stalwart returned from knee surgery to play for Wellington's Capital Shakers in this year's Coca-Cola Cup, but is now redefining the meaning of player-coach on the central North Island roads.

"The trick is to not worry about it, but to just get stuck in and do it," she said yesterday of the dual roles.

"Right from the beginning I was determined to give each task equal priority - it was important not to let one job overshadow the other, and everything has turned about pretty sweet, really."

While Bay of Plenty will need plenty of her wisdom as newcomers to division two, Taurua is set to play a major part in the title defence of Waikato, who begin their campaign on Monday afternoon against Wellington.

The Mooloo team are again shaping up as the side to beat, with strong combinations through the court, a particularly robust defence end, and a management team including former New Zealand players Ruth Aitken (coach) and Karen Henrikson (manager).

"They are a very well-balanced group," Taurua said, "quite mature, but with a lot of enthusiasm and commitment and a real desire to defend the championship at home,"

The only other party she owes, after Waikato and Bay of Plenty, is herself. The former Wellington goal-shoot made her debut for New Zealand in 1994 and played her most recent test during the Silver Ferns' silver medal effort at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

A New Zealand squad member for the past six years, Taurua was probably always too short for an international goal-attack despite her quickness, and these days spends more of her time operating at wing-attack.

She said her comeback after injury this year was possibly a shade premature, and she was feeling far more confident and relaxed about her game now.

"I probably wasn't ready to come back when I did. I wasn't quite ready after the knee problem and I took my time finding my feet."

With the available Silver Ferns spread throughout the competition, it could be difficult to know where Waikato's strongest challenge will come from, although on paper Manawatu qualify as the most unlikely to upset.

Manukau have gained former New Zealand player Debbie Matoe but have lost the injured Anna Tai.

Auckland can boast the tournament's oldest player (Leonie Leaver, at 35) and the youngest (Rachel Rasmussen, 16), while Wellington will look to the twin towers of Irene van Dyk and Jodi Te Huna.

South of Cook Strait, Canterbury, who will welcome back Fijiian defender Villimaina Davu, and Southland appear to have reliable if not dynamic line-ups, while Otago will depend on a swag of New Zealand Youth players, and returned coach Georgie Salter.