Netball: Lynch out to extinguish the Flames

By JULIE ASH

Two years ago the force was not with Maria Lynch and her North Harbour side when they lost to the Sting in the semifinals of the national league.

But on Friday night at the North Shore Events Centre, the Australian coach is hoping history will not repeat and her side will oust the Canterbury Flames and win a place in the final.

The Force beat the Flames by one goal in the first round of the competition, and in a game where many of the country's top players will square off against one another, competition will be fierce.

"There will be a lot of personal match-ups so the players will have to come up with the goods when needed and really show their skills," Lynch said.

The Force side include Silver Fern squad members Linda Vagana, Lorna Suafoa, Sheryl Clarke, Daneka Wipiiti and Temepara Clarke, but the Flames lineup is slightly more impressive, with Silver Ferns Vilimaina Davu, Ana Veronese, Belinda Colling, Belinda Charteris, Julie Seymour and Angela Evans.

"Any side can be beaten," Lynch said. " It just depends on a team's performance."

Should the Force win, their likely opponents in the final are the unbeaten Sting, who face the Capital Shakers in the other semi at home in Invercargill on Sunday.

"Our first goal was to make the semis because we didn't last year, but it is our dream to be in the final."

Since the start of the competition in 1998, the Force's best effort has been fourth, in 2000, despite always fielding a team full of present and former Silver Ferns.

"I think over the years some of the criticism has been unfounded," Lynch said. "We lost to the Sting by only four goals in the semifinals in 2000 and they went on to win the competition. "Last year, we lost only two games, but didn't make the top four."

Lynch, born and bred in Sydney, said her job with the team came up by chance.

"I had been travelling back and forth for a while with the Illawarra Academy of Sport and NSW teams.

"I was here for the world championships in Christchurch and I ran into some North Harbour people who asked if I wanted to apply.

"I didn't really expect to get an interview, let alone the job. New Zealand and Australia are big rivals and I didn't think I would be in for a chance, but it was a good opportunity for me to broaden my horizons."

Selecting a team and adapting to the New Zealand style of play were the first challenges Lynch had to overcome.

"The Kiwi style has a lot more flair and a lot more of the entertainment value, whereas at home they are very skilful and very athletic players, but are almost like robots.

"In Australia, they are looking for long, lean bodies. They want big, tall shooters and lanky defence - if players don't fit into that mold they are bypassed, whereas here players are all shapes and sizes and they love having a go at the intercepts."

Lynch said the Silver Ferns were on the right track.

"They are losing to Australia by only one or two goals now, but I believe with all the money and all the institutes Australia have, they should be miles ahead. If the Kiwis had all those opportunities, the Aussies would never catch them."