Netball: New Silver Fern 'over the moon'

By JULIE ASH

When Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken rang Daneka Wipiiti and told her she had made the Silver Ferns the stunned 19-year-old replied, "Are you sure?"

The North Harbour goal shoot said she was "shocked" but "over the moon" to be named in the 12-strong squad to play Barbados this month.

"When Ruth rang and said, 'I have got good news for you', I didn't believe her. When she told me the news I asked, 'Are you sure'?" Wipiiti said at yesterday's team announcement in Auckland.

Wipiiti is the only new cap in the side. Diamonds player Anna Rowberry, who has clawed her way back after being dropped in 2000, is returning to the side.

Linda Vagana and Vilimaina Davu also return after missing February's tour to Jamaica through unavailability and injury.

Midcourt players Adine Harper, Temepara Clark and Victoria Edward missed the cut as did shooters Angela Evans and Tania Dalton and defender Lorna Suafoa.

The omission of Dalton and Clark in favour of Wipiiti and Magic wing attack Jenny-May Coffin were the biggest surprises, considering Dalton was the second most accurate shooter in the national league and Clark was named the best midcourt player in the league.

Aitken said the wing attack position was difficult to pick with so many candidates playing at centre.

"I believe that Temepara is, at the moment, still a specialist centre and that the style Jenny-May brings to wing attack is actually what we need to look at for now," said Aitken.

"I was very impressed with how Julie [Seymour] and Jenny-May worked in Jamaica. When we got the ball we very seldom lost it and it was that clinicalness that I was looking for.

"Anna Rowberry has played wing attack a lot and her power is completely different so it was looking at the mix."

Aitken said she had been impressed with Wipiiti's progress in the Silver Ferns squad over the last two years.

The selection process included the New Zealand A tour to Newcastle, New Zealand's Jamaican tour and the national league.

"The Barbados series is our first step on the way to Manchester. But it does allow us, with the naming of the Games team on July 5, to review the selections that have been made to see where things are at."

For Wipiiti, her parents in New Plymouth were the first to hear her news.

"They were over the moon and all screaming.

"My sisters were yelling, 'My sister is a Silver Fern'."

While it is Wipiiti's first time in the team, for 26-year-old Rowberry it has been a long road back.

"I guess the big thing for me has been working on controlling my speed and being able to feed a stationary shooter," she said.

And it seems being recalled is just as satisfying as being named in the team for the first time.

"I had to keep it pretty quiet but Ruth said I could ring Mum and Dad so I rang them and they said don't ring your sisters they're blabber mouths so I couldn't ring them," she laughs.

"But I feel very lucky knowing that some outstanding girls missed out."

New Zealand play Barbados in Invercargill on June 29, in Wellington two days later and finally at North Shore Events Centre on July 3.

New Zealand A play Barbados on July 5, 7 and 8 at Palmerston North, Taupo and Tauranga respectively.

New Zealand A to play Barbados: Tania Dalton (Sting), Angela Evans (Flames), Katie Ritchie (Rebels), Jodi Te Huna (Shakers), Adine Harper (Sting), Temepara Clark (Force), Maree Grubb (Flames), Victoria Edward (Magic), Anna Scarlett (Rebels), Rachel Rasmussen (Diamonds), Lorna Suafoa (Force), Joline Henry (Magic).