Netball: Aitken shoots for team unity

By JULIE ASH

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken wants the best of both worlds when the New Zealand team line up against Australia in November.

Aitken wants the Silver Ferns to continue their winning run over Australia but she is also keen to give as many players as possible court time as they build towards the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The Silver Ferns team to face Australia in a three-test series, which starts at the Sydney Superdome on November 13, was named in Auckland yesterday.

The only change to the team, which scored a clean sweep over Australia in June, was the recall of Otago shooter Angela Mitchell.

Looking ahead to the Australian tour, Aitken said she hoped to give "fringe players" like Victoria Edward, Jodi Te Huna and Anna Scarlett, who only made brief appearances in the last series, more court time. "It will be a juggling act because I don't want to compromise the quality of court performance - I do like to win," Aitken said.

"But I want those players to step up and I need to know if they can and be in contention for the Commonwealth Games and beyond."

New Zealand could have named a squad of 15 after Australia tweaked the series rules. However, after much debate Aitken said they decided to stick with the traditional 12.

"My feeling is that the Silver Ferns team and that test cap status should be quite elite.

"So for me I would rather we work with the 12 and really build that team unity but at the same time we have to address how we help the others in the squad."

In the last series the Silver Ferns team included five middies, four defenders and just three shooters. The addition of Mitchell sees the return of the even split.

"I just felt it was important that with our shooting depth that we ensure that we have got options that are coming through," Aitken said.

Unlucky to have missed out were Waikato midcouters Laura Langman and Amigene Metcalfe, both of whom were outstanding in the Smokefree Championships. Their Waikato team-mates Leana du Plooy and Casey Williams also missed the cut.

"Laura has been a little energiser battery and is certainly a girl on a mission. But I felt in the last international series both Lesley (Nicol) and Victoria (Edward) had some good parts of their play. The risk of taking three specialist wing defences in the one team would be just too great at this time. Her time will come."

She said taking Metcalfe as another feeder to replace Rowberry was a "temptation".

"She has got just great flow and understanding. Certainly the four that missed out ... in another place in another time I would be happy to have them in my team."

The 12-strong squad does not yet include a captain, with incumbent skipper Anna Rowberry out with injury.

Aitken said a decision would be made next month.

Silver Ferns

Temepara Clark (North), Belinda Colling (based in Scotland), Vilimaina Davu (Canterbury), Victoria Edward (Auckland Waitakere), Adine Harper (Southland), Joline Henry (Waikato), Angela Mitchell (Otago), Lesley Nicol (Southland), Sheryl Scanlan (North), Anna Scarlett (Otago), Jodi Te Huna (Canterbury), Irene van Dyk (Waikato).