Netball: Te Huna only new cap in Silver Ferns

10.30am

Former New Zealand under-21 captain and Canterbury Flames netball shooter Jodi Te Huna's improved form was rewarded today when she was named as the only new cap in the Silver Ferns team.

The return of midcourter Temepara Clark and shooter Tania Dalton are features of the 12-strong team named for the home series against England and the world championships in Jamaica in July.

Midcourters Jenny-May Coffin and Victoria Edwards, who both went on February's tour to England, have been dropped.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said competition for places was fierce and the strong performance of players during the trials held over Easter reflected the depth of talent evident in New Zealand.

Aitken has opted to play the versatile Adine Harper in the midcourt after she toured England as a shooter. Harper's presence in the midcourt allows room for two specialist shooters to be included in the mix.

"It is great to have Harper's speed and physical presence in the midcourt. With the availability and experience of Dalton and the improved performance of Te Huna this allowed greater versatility," Aitken said.

Te Huna caught the eye of New Zealand selectors during the current National Bank Cup and continued to impress at the trials where she combined well with all combinations she played with.

Clark returns to the side after an outstanding National Bank Cup campaign where she has continued to show dynamic and consistent form in the midcourt, providing a great variety of play and more disciplined approach on defence.

Dalton, who plays both goal attack and goalshoot, rejoins the Silver Ferns after some impressive form for the Southern Sting. She last played for New Zealand in 2000 when the Silver Ferns toured South Africa.

Aitken said she has chosen a versatile team who can cover a wide range of positions that can offer different tactical options.

"We needed to cover a variety of playing combinations which provide us with the ability to change and adapt our game," she said.

Anna Rowberry is retained as captain.

Te Huna had almost given up hope when a late call realised her dream.

"I was told at nine o'clock last night and I had kind of given up hope by then because I thought if I was hoping to get a call it would have been during the day," Te Huna told NZPA today.

"I had given up and was getting ready to go to bed, just pottering around. Then Ruth (Aitken, coach) rang and I was jumping up and down and screaming.

"I was so excited, I just couldn't believe it."

The reward was a 5.15am flight to Auckland this morning to attend a media conference following the official naming of the team.

Aitken said hard work in the off-season had paid off for Te Huna. Not one of the greatest trainers in the past, Te Huna had shown the biggest improvement out all the New Zealand squad in terms of fitness levels.

Improved fitness and a higher degree of accuracy with her shooting had won the former New Zealand under-21 captain a place in the senior team.

"She's been playing very well in the National Bank Cup, has a maturity beyond her years and now that she's got the physical conditioning to support that she's just really strong," Aitken said.

"She has a calmness and composure and the rougher it gets the more she likes it which is an important ingredient for international netball."

Te Huna said the players who went on the tour to the United Kingdom in February had the jump on her and she knew Easter's trials involving the top 20 players would be tough.

"I had nothing to lose and I just went in there and played my little heart out," she said.

"I've matured as a player and I think the change of environment has given me a new challenge. I've had to work really hard to establish myself in the new Canterbury environment.

"I've changed a couple of things like my training ethics. I train a lot harder now than I used to and I'm just enjoying my netball.

"In the past I've been too hung up on getting selected in a certain team whereas now I'm out there to enjoy it and the rewards will come."

Silver Ferns:

Irene van Dyk (Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic), Belinda Colling (Canterbury Flames), Jodi Te Huna (Canterbury Flames), Tania Dalton (Southern Sting), Temepara Clark (Force), Adine Harper (Southern Sting), Anna Rowberry (captain, Diamonds), Lesley Nicol (Southern Sting), Sheryl Clarke (Force), Leana du Plooy (Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic), Anna Scarlett (Otago Rebels), Vilimaina Davu (Canterbury Flames).

- NZPA