Netball: Diamonds take a leaf from Sting book

The Diamonds may look to employ some of the Sting's tactics when the two sides clash at Waitakere Stadium tomorrow.

The Diamonds have beaten the Sting only once in the six times the two sides have clashed. That was in 1999, when the Diamonds edged out their rivals by just two goals.

The Southern Sting have a phenomenal record in the National Bank Cup, having won the title for the last six years.

The philosophy for their success seems to revolve around three main points. They have always managed to secure a handful of top players - Adine Wilson, Lesley Nicol, Donna Loffhagen and Tania Dalton have been the core of the side for the past few seasons.

They very rarely make mistakes on court and they punish their opponents when they do.

Following a successful recruitment drive in the off-season, the Diamonds have nailed point number one, but they are still grappling with the other two.

While the new-look Diamonds are slowly coming together, the Sting, despite a horror run of injuries which this week has seen key defender Megan Hutton ruled out for the rest of the competition, have made a strong start to the competition.

They were always expected to beat the less fancied Flyers and Shakers, but their 54-41 dismissal of the Otago Rebels last weekend proves, injuries or not, the Sting machine powers on.

The loss of the powerful Hutton is a blow, but New Zealand A players Jenny Ferguson and Anna Galvan will be equally difficult for the Diamonds to bore through.

The Diamonds should have a slight edge in the midcourt with Anna Rowberry and Victoria Edward and have a stronger bench than their southern rivals.

How Diamonds defenders Stephanie Bond and Kathryn Harby-Williams cope with Sting shooters Tania Dalton and Donna Loffhagen will be a key factor in the match, as will the shooting statistics.

After three rounds Loffhagen and Dalton sit on 85 per cent and 76 per cent respectively and Jo Morrison and Jodi Te Huna sit on 84 per cent and 77 per cent.

"They have got lots of experienced players and lots of combinations," said Sting coach Robyn Broughton.

"But they have seen us and we have seen them. So we'll see what happens on the day."

In tomorrow's other match, the unbeaten Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic face the Otago Rebels in Dunedin.

While the Magic are expected to dominate it will be interesting to see how Magic shooter Irene van Dyk contends with the long, lean limbs of Rebels defender Anna Scarlett.

Round Four

Tomorrow: Diamonds v Sting, 1pm Waitakere Stadium, Rebels v Magic, 1pm Dunedin.