Netball: Career with Sting in its tail

By JULIE ASH

Silver fern goal shoot Tania Dalton had two things she wanted to achieve this year.

One was ticked off last Friday night when her team the Southern Sting won the national league. The second? Well, whether that gets ticked off or not depends on how the Silver Ferns go at the world championships in Jamaica in July.

After what has been an erratic international career Dalton must almost have to pinch herself to make sure she is not dreaming and is in fact one of the 12 New Zealand players heading to Jamaica.

"It is pretty exciting. I am just loving playing at the moment. And to go to the world championships, well that is just great - some players never make it to a world championship event."

Dalton made her debut for the Silver Ferns in 1996 against South Africa.

"It was overwhelming. I remember in that first test I was absolutely crapping myself."

She injured her ankle, ruling her out of the rest of the series.

She did not get on court for the series which followed against Australia and was overlooked until 2000 when she returned for the world series and a series against South Africa, where she played in two of the three tests.

"I was having a laugh with Donna Loffhagen the other day. In 1996 I got in the team because she was out for some reason and then I got back in 2000 because she decided to take the year off and concentrate on basketball. So this time it was nice to get in on my own merit."

Despite her accuracy as a shooter, Dalton was again overlooked for last year's Commonwealth Games team.

"I am not one to dwell on things ... it is just the opinion of a handful on people. I was extremely disappointed but I think all of Southland was more disappointed.

"But as you get older you soon discover there is more to life than just netball."

Dalton then made herself unavailable for the Silver Ferns before being lured back by national coach Ruth Aitken this year.

"Ruth rang me to see if I would be interested in trialling. I told her I'd think about it and went away and spoke to [her husband] Duane and my family as it was a huge commitment especially with Tayla [the couple's 19-month-old daughter].

"They were all very supportive so I decided to give it a go and if I got in, well it was only sort of three months of hard work and then it would all be over."

A few months and it will all be over - those few words are what Dalton is especially clinging to this week.

After helping the Sting win their fifth consecutive national league title last Friday night, Dalton returned to Invercargill on Monday for the team's celebrations. On Sunday, she heads to Christchurch for a week-long Silver Ferns camp before the test series against England, which starts on June 9.

"It has been tough and the body is a bit sore but you wouldn't have it any other way. The final [against North Harbour's Force] was great. I had a great tussle with Linda Vagana [Force goal keep]."

A North Shore girl through and through, Dalton turned a few heads when she chose to play for the Sting in the national league travelling to and from Invercargill once or twice a week.

"I think you have to be happy. I really enjoy playing under [Sting coach] Robyn Broughton. She is inspirational and has an amazing ability to get the best out of you. She always tells you how great you are and she never panics.

"Last week after the first quarter when we were 14-9 down, she just said, 'Right lets get on with it, don't worry'. We were kind of like, 'Have you looked at the scoreboard?'

"She makes you feel like you can do anything, which tends to make you believe in yourself."

So will Southland fans see Dalton back in green and blue next year? "I'll have to see what happens."

That decision might come easier if she achieves the second thing - win a world championship.


Tania Dalton

Born: Nov 26, 1971, North Shore

Lives: North Shore

Height: 1.84m.

Positions: Goal Shoot, Goal Attack

Occupation: Mother

Test caps: 3

Career highlights:

1996, 2000, 2003: Silver Fern

2002/03: Southern Sting

1998, 2001/02: Force

1999: Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic