Netball: Aussie coach inspires Vagana

By RICHARD BOOCK

In normal circumstances, thanking Australians does not rate highly on Linda Vagana's list of priorities, but she will cheerfully make an exception in the case of Maria Lynch.

Ready to retire after New Zealand's agonising loss in the final of last year's world netball championships, Vagana is set to play a pivotal role for the Force in tomorrow night's national league semifinal, and will be among the first chosen in the Silver Ferns' test team at the end of the competition.

The in-form goal-keep credits Force coach Lynch as the inspiration behind her decision to continue for at least another year, and for the noticeable spark which has carried her game to new heights throughout this season's Coca-Cola Cup.

"I was thinking of calling it a day," Vagana said.

"But Maria's been so stimulating and refreshing that I've ended up really enjoying my netball.


"I've never really been satisfied with my performance for New Zealand, it's always been a bit up-and-down, but there's a lot more consistency in my game this season and, hopefully, that will continue into the international programme."

Vagana, who has played under Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering at provincial and international level for the past six years, believes that exposure to the same coach for a long period can often lead to repetition and tedium, rather than the presumed higher level of understanding.

The 28-year-old said she was half-expecting Lynch to make all the Force players pass one-handed, as in Australia, but was instead surprised and excited with the new ideas and tactics that the New South Wales coach brought to the game.

"Maria has had a huge influence on, not just me, but the whole side.

"She's brought a fresh, new perspective with her and has some different ways of going about things."

Named Waitakere's Netballer of the Year a fortnight ago, Vagana is keen for another shot at the defending Sting in Invercargill tomorrow night after the Force were out-pointed 46-64 in a virtual dress-rehearsal on Sunday.

Vagana was a stand-out performer in that match as the Force went to halftime level at 28-28, but could only watch from the back as Southland's defensive line ran amuck in the second half.

"The first half showed we were capable but the second half reminded us that we've got to do it for the whole game, not just part of it," she said.

Stadium Southland has been sold out for the semifinal, despite extra seating being rushed in, while the situation is similar at Christchurch's Cowles Stadium, the venue for Sunday's semifinal between the Flames and the Capital Shakers.