Netball: Steed in pursuit of role at attack

By RICHARD BOOCK

England netballer Jo Steed would jump at the chance to have a run at goal-attack in tonight's third test against New Zealand.

The former Otago goal-shoot has spent much of her time on the bench during the first two tests, and when she has been called upon to take the court has been limited to the goal-shoot position.

One of the best shooters in the modern game, Steed may not be considered a quick-moving goal-attack. But she is used to the close marking tactics of defenders like Bernice Mene and Linda Vagana and could well prove more productive than the players previously used.

In a sport where both teams are guaranteed 50 per cent of the possession, England have performed woefully in the shooting circle so far, reaching double figures in just one of the eight quarters contested.

They were outgunned 7-20, 6-16 and 4-15 through the last three-quarters of the second test as their mid-court was closed down by the Silver Ferns' circle defence and their shooters struggled to cope with the attentions of Vagana and Mene.

Goal-attack Tracey Neville has been full of commitment and rookie Ama Agbeze has also been tried, but it is hard to imagine that Steed could do any worse in tandem with England No 1 goal-shoot Alex Astle.

"I've been playing goal-attack quite a bit in England," said Steed, who plays club netball for the Academy, county netball for Middlesex and also represents the London Tornadoes in the English Super Club competition.

"It worked out that I was getting a good run at goal-attack and I loved it - it was great to grow my game and develop it beyond the constraints of goal-shoot. I enjoyed the extra dimension."

As a goal-shoot, the 26-year schoolteacher starred for the Caltex Cup champions Albion and the Coca-Cola Cup-winning Otago Rebels and also played six tests for the Silver Ferns before opting to travel to England for some OE.

She said it was a challenging time for the England team because they were in a major transitional stage and were just starting to develop some cohesion and combination, which augured well for the future and in particular the Manchester Commonwealth Games.

"We're in the middle of a big learning curve and the first two tests probably showed that," she said. "But I think we have been learning fast, and the understanding that you need at this level is just starting to develop.

"Let's face it, we've come to one of the best netballing countries in the world and you've got to expect a tough time.

"But the spirit in the team is strong and everyone's completely focused on this third test - we're looking forward to it."

New Zealand: Bernice Mene (capt), Linda Vagana, Vilimaina Davu, Sheryl Clarke, Lesley Nicol, Vic Edward, Jenny-May Coffin, Temepara George, Adine Harper, Belinda Colling, Donna Loffhagen, Irene van Dyk.

England: Olivia Murphy (capt), Amanda Newton, Jo Steed, Alex Astle, Jess Garland, Ama Agbeze, Tracey Neville, Karen Aspinall, Anna Newell, Deborah Jones, Chioma Ezeogu, Naomi Siddall, Geva Mentor.