Netball: Many facets to new Diamonds

By JULIE ASH

Auckland Waitakere's new Diamond, Sally Farmer, can be excused for having a few rough edges.

The 25-year-old national women's basketball representative has been named in the Diamonds' training squad for the Coca-Cola Cup.

The nine franchises named their squads yesterday, but have until February to complete their final teams for next year's competition.

Farmer played club netball for a College Rifles academy side this year, but until then had not set foot on a netball court for a considerable time.

"It was really the first time I had played since primary school," she said.

But, despite her lack of experience, Farmer found herself lining up for Southland in this year's national provincial championships.

Southland co-coach Robyn Broughton recommended the Diamonds to Farmer.

"I saw it as a new challenge. I have been playing in the national basketball league for years, but the support is so much bigger for netball."

But there is little chance Farmer will ditch basketball for netball.

"I'll juggle them for a while, but I definitely want to keep playing basketball at international level."

Farmer, who can play on defence or as a shooter, is one of three major changes in the Diamonds.

Former Silver Fern Leonie Leaver is back after a two-year absence and former Otago Rebel Katie Fay is moving from Tauranga.

The Diamonds have retained a number of players from last year, including Kiri Adams, Anna Rowberry, Rachel Rasmussen, Phillipa Te Hira, Moana Clarke and Kimberley Horton.

North Harbour's Force, coached by Maria Lynch, have also held on to most of their players from last season.

Their squad include Silver Ferns Linda Vagana, Temepara George and Sheryl Clarke, and Silver Fern squad member Daneka Wipiiti.

They have welcomed back Lorna Suafoa and Laila Tai, as well as regulars Kate Dowling, Rochelle Hardcastle, Teresa Tairi, Corlie Wolmarans and Owena Zanders.



The Force lost shooter Tania Dalton to the Sting.

She adds to an impressive squad which includes Silver Ferns Bernice Mene, Lesley Nicol, Donna Loffhagen and Adine Harper.

The Counties/Manukau Cometz squad, under coach Jan Lundon, have gained former Sting player Janine Topia and former Force player Nicolette Ropati.

The Magic, who made the top four last year have a formidable line-up with Jenny-May Coffin, Amigene Metcalfe, Victoria Edward, Koren Pickard and Joline Henry.

The Canterbury Flames have six present or former Silver Fern squad members in Belinda Charteris, Belinda Colling, Vilimaina Davu, Angela Evans, Julie Seymour and Anna Veronese.

Lois Muir's Otago Rebels squad include New Zealand academy players Angelina Yates and Katie Ritchie, and New Zealand under-21 player Stephanie Bond.

Silver Fern Irene van Dyk remains with Wellington's Capital Shakers, along with Jodi Te Huna, Natasha Bergin and Debbie Matoe, and in a surprise, 17-year-old Ariki Taru, from Wellington Girls College.

The Western Flyers squad include national under-21 players Jodi Todd and Chantelle Ngaia, and experienced midcourt player Yvette McCausland-Durie.

The cup starts in April.