Netball: That missed goal is now just a distant memory for Loffhagen

By RICHARD BOOCK

Silver Fern Donna Loffhagen can possibly thank Irene van Dyk for kick-starting a career which seemed stalled after a match-deciding miss in the world championship final.

The 23-year-old Loffhagen was New Zealand's No 1 goal-shoot during that fateful tournament two years ago, and was so damaged by the publicity that she struggled for form the following season and took an extended break from the game.

It was only after the arrival and subsequent impact of van Dyk that Loffhagen started to attract interest at goal-attack, and the transition was completed during last month's opening test of the Tri-Nations series against Australia.

The Southern Sting star is now so well regarded in the position that she plays goal-shoot only if van Dyk is injured or forced to rest, although she still has to vie for court-time at goal-attack with Belinda Colling.

The trend is likely to continue in Invercargill tonight, when New Zealand square off against England in the first test at Stadium Southland.

Van Dyk has confirmed her standing as the world's finest goal-shoot, and while that leaves Loffhagen going head-to-head with Colling at goal-attack, her superior shooting ability is always likely to prove a temptation for coach Yvonne Willering.

"I haven't actually played goal-shoot for so long that it feels a bit foreign to me now," Loffhagen said yesterday. "I definitely feel more at home at goal-attack."

She said the Ferns had plenty to work on after a two-week break, not to mention the comprehensive loss to Australia in the "re-match" at Sydney, when they almost lost their grip on the Tri-Nations trophy.

Ferns captain Bernice Mene rejected suggestions that the test would be a pushover for the hosts, but she is convinced there will be a tight finish.

New Zealand have averaged 30-point winning margins in their last three outings against England, and have gone 42 games without a loss to them since 1975.

New Zealand and England have been based in Queenstown during the build-up to tonight's match.

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

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