Netball: Cowbells clang for superstar

By JULIE ASH

While the hunt to find New Zealand's idol may be about to begin, Waikato need not worry. It already has one of its own - Jenny-May Coffin.

The pint-sized former Silver Fern, now a breakfast morning radio host, seems to have turned into a bit of a superstar in the region and it is not the result of some TV show.

As she walks around the giant Mystery Creek stadium, cowbells start clanging and every youngster who spies her bellows out "Hi, Jenny-May", "Jenny-May, over here", before racing to her for her autograph.

Yesterday the calls of support and clanging of the cowbells were even louder as Coffin took the court in her first game of the week-long tournament.

With her partner in crime and fellow midcourter Amigene Metcalfe, the pair have struggled with calf strains - Coffin's so serious it has kept her out of the tournament until now.

But yesterday the pair returned, helping Waikato to a 76-45 win over Otago that secured them a place in the semifinals. Waikato finished the round robin competition in third place behind Netball North and Auckland Waitakere.

Canterbury secured the final spot after beating Wellington 64-38 yesterday.

With Canterbury nailing their place earlier in the day, the final top-four spot came down to the battle between Otago and hometown favourites Waikato, with only the winner advancing.

Although Otago have had just one win in the competition, over Wellington, their disruptive style of play has ruffled the feathers of several of the more fancied sides.

That was the case again last night. With at least four players sporting bandages on thigh, calf or ankles, Waikato looked like they had already been in a war before the real battle started.

But the injuries did not slow them as Waikato banged the ball down the court and into shooter Irene van Dyk. In what was a fairly even, scrappy first quarter in which both teams struggled to find their rhythm, Waikato went into the break 15-13 ahead.

The impact of Coffin and Metcalfe was immediate as Waikato surged ahead in the second quarter.

Van Dyk had a particularly good day at the office, landing 60 goals from 60 attempts despite constant pressure from her Silver Fern team-mate Lesley Nicol, who played at goal defence for Otago.

Waikato flew out to a 38-24 lead at halftime, extended it to 57-38 at the three-quarter break before claiming the comfortable victory, which has catapulted them back into contention for the national title.

"We are really pleased, it was a must-win," said Waikato coach Nicole Dryden. "But we have plenty to work on. The opposition in the semis are going to be just as fired up as we are about determining our destiny."

And who would they like to meet in tomorrow's semi?

"You have to beat them all to be the winner, so we'll meet whoever."

In today's semis the top-ranked team play the fourth-ranked team and the second meet the third. The winners will then square off in tomorrow night's final.