Netball: North versus south

By JULIE ASH

TERESA TAIRI

Force goal attack

Teresa Tairiis adamant her side will be quicker off the mark this time round when they line up against the Sting tonight.

The last time the two sides met, back in round four, the Sting came out on top 53-49 after racing out to a 10-goal lead at halftime.

"They got off to a good start and we were caught on the back foot," Tairi said. "And you can't afford to be playing catch-up with the Sting.

"We played better in the second half and exposed a few weaknesses which we hope to find again."

Tairi sees the Sting attack of Tania Dalton, Donna Loffhagen and Adine Harper as their major strength.

"They are all current or former Silver Ferns. That is an area that we will have to watch out for but we have been really happy with our defence."

The Sting's style could hardly be described as flashy, but Tairi said the southerners were hard to stop once they got on a roll.

"You have to look at slowing them down and slowing the ball down. We can't be left trying to catch up. We have to stay calm and not get caught up in the hype and the speed of the game."

As one of the Force "originals", Tairi has waited a long time for the chance to play in a national league final.

Since the inception of the competition, the Force have always been a strong team on paper but have never finished any higher than third.

"We are absolutely stoked to have made the final," said Tairi.

"Linda [Vagana], Sheryl [Clarke] and I have been in the team since the start so it is awesome to have made it."

But she is quick to point out that the Force are not content with just being in the final, they want to win it.

"It is a bit daunting playing down there," Tairi concedes.

"You can hardly hear yourself think. They have bagpipes and everything. It is just so noisy."


DONNA LOFFHAGEN

Sting goal attack

Donna Loffhagen has some bad news for any Force fans secretly hoping injury would force her out of tonight's final.

"I am fine," she said. "I'm really looking forward it."

The Sting goal attack suffered a blow to one of her hands in last weekend's semifinal against the Otago Rebels.

Initially there were concerns that she may have broken a finger but Loffhagen is fit and raring to go.

"The Force will be a hard team to beat. I don't think they have played to their full potential yet. So you never know, it could all come together for them in the final."

With six current or former Silver Ferns in their lineup, Loffhagen said the Force cannot be underestimated although they have never beaten the Sting in the league's five-year history.

"Temepara Clark has been playing really well.

"Teresa Tairi is an old head with plenty of experience and then they have Linda Vagana and Sheryl Clarke on defence so there is no shortage of strength in their side.

"I think they had an indifferent game against the Magic, but I guess that's common in semifinal matches."

Loffhagen said she and Tania Dalton are well aware they are in for a tough battle against the Force defenders.

"I think they like the high ball. They are very aerial, so to combat that we will have to do short, sharp passes."

The Sting will be competing in their sixth final and Loffhagen has been with them since day one.

"There are a number of reasons for our success," she said.

"Having the same coach has helped. Robyn [Broughton] is very knowledgeable and her love of the game shines through. I also think we play as a team, not as individuals.

"To win five years in a row would have to go down in the books as one of the best performances by a sports team ever."