Netball: Auckland turn sights to next year's prize

Laura Langman (left) and Irene van Dyk of Waikato celebrate their victory after Auckland Waitakere led in the first two quarters. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Waikato 40 Auckland Waitakere 38

Auckland Waitakere captain Jenny-May Coffin believes a culture has been installed in her team that will hopefully take them one step further in next year's national championships.

Auckland Waitakere exceeded expectations in the Scottwood Trust championship, where they were narrowly defeated by Waikato in the final.

"I think probably the determination behind us giving it a good go in the final and having a good performance by the end of the week was just because no one expected us to do that," Coffin said.

"We were counted out at the beginning of the week and everyone was picking a Waikato/Southland final.

"We knew that Waikato were ready for the taking, we could have had it but that is what finals netball is all about, you have to hang in there right till the last second."

Auckland Waitakere led in the first two quarters before Waikato came back to tie the score at 31-all going into the last quarter.

The reliable Irene van Dyk pushed Waikato ahead midway through the quarter, where they managed to stay until the end. The win was Waikato's fifth in eight years and the final Auckland's first in six years.

The match was the last for Waikato coach Nicole Dryden, who after five years wants to spend more time with her family.

Auckland Waitakere looked formidable going into the championships with Anna Scarlett, Stephanie Bond, Maria Tutaia and Coffin.

The challenge for new coach Paula Bailey was always going to be getting them going as a unit.

Having scored comfortable wins over Tasman, Western and the Bay of Plenty, Auckland Waitakere then had three consecutive losses to Waikato, Southland and Canterbury, which set up a titanic battle with neighbours North to decide the final semifinalist.

In that match, Auckland Waitakere hardly had to get out of second gear to beat defending champions North, who couldn't put the ball through the hoop.

After the match, the defensive style of Scarlett and Bond came under attack. North coach Melissa Walker and van Dyk criticised Scarlett for her continuous contact.

If anything the criticism fired up Auckland Waitakere as they charged past Southland into the final.

"We did it the hard way but the experience that these young girls will have got out of playing finals netball they will never forget," Coffin said.

"This week has shown them what success can breed and within the team it has meant a massive culture change.

"I think that culture of fighting for it and realising what they can achieve has really made these girls think we want to stay together, there is more we can do.

"Waikato has built their team around a mix of experience and youth and if this team stays together they can do exactly that."

Whether Coffin will be back is another issue. The 32-year-old struggled with her calf muscles throughout the tournament, looking like a hospital outpatient with her legs extensively bandaged.

But without her leadership and drive through the midcourt it is unlikely Auckland would have advanced past the semifinals.

Just before halftime in the final Coffin strained a leg and at the break told the coach she didn't know how much longer she was going to last.

But she lasted the whole 60 minutes and, with Scarlett, who was named the player of the final, Bond and young shooter Paula Griffin, can take a lot of the credit for the team's strong finish.

North finished fifth, beating Western 66-53 in their final game.

North coach Melissa Walker acknowledged inaccurate shooting let her side down but had nothing but praise for her defence, in particular 19-year-old Areta Thatcher.