North coach Yvonne Willering signed off her provincial netball coaching career the way she started it 20 years ago - with a win.
Her side had been left holding the consolation bouquet while Waikato enjoyed the spoils of the last two national netball championships.
But they reversed that trend, upsetting
the pre-tournament favourite 51-46 in Dunedin on Saturday. Willering said the win provided some symmetry to her career - she started her coaching with a win leading Auckland to victory in 1986 - and was the perfect way to draw the curtain.
"I started off with a win so it is quite neat to finish with a win as well," she said.
Willering will continue to coach but said it had become increasingly difficult to do so at provincial level as well as in the National Bank Cup competition.
She kept her decision from her players and the media until after the match.
"It's about them out on court and that is where I wanted them to focus.
"I needed them to do that for themselves."
North got off to a dream start in the match racing out to a 14-6 lead midway though the first quarter
Catherine Latu was finding space in the shooting circle and converting the early chances easily.
But the lead was trimmed to one goal by the end of the quarter as Waikato's mid-court found their rhythm.
Waikato gained momentum in the second period leading by seven goals at one stage but North clawed their way back and trailed 27-24 at halftime and 39-38 going in to the final period.
In the closing minutes, it was a short pass from Anna Senio to Irene van Dyk that proved to be the mistake that put the game out of reach for the defending champions.
In the playoff for third Auckland beat Canterbury 62-51.
- NZPA
