Netball: Get shorty (But watch out - she's Vili fast)

Vilimaina Davu

She may answer to the nickname Shorty but make no mistake, Silver Ferns defender Vilimaina Davu is neither short in stature nor short of speed.

It may come as a surprise but Davu is the fastest Silver Fern over 10 metres.

She can beat the agile Adine Wilson, the powerful Temepara George and even the wiry Laura Langman.

A feat that surprises the mighty defender herself. "When they told me, I was like, 'Wow is that right, I can't believe it myself'," she laughs down the phone before reverting back to her serious voice.

"But it is not just about me being fast, it is the skill that goes with it. Especially playing Australia who are fast in every area. It is also being consistent with it and that is my main focus for these nationals ... being consistent throughout the whole 60 minutes and building and improving in each game."

Davu's Canterbury side, which includes 10 players from the Flames franchise, are one of the favourites to win the tournament.

In last week's opening round of games they scored easy wins over Counties Manukau (89-24) and Eastern (73-21) and an important 51-42 win over defending champions North despite the absence of regular goal attack Jade Topia, who was sick.

Contributing factors in their success were the defensive combination of Davu and Elizabeth Manu, the tireless Julie Seymour, who at this rate could earn herself a Silver Ferns recall, and the accuracy of shooter Shelley Norris, who put up 187 goals, landing 163 for 87 per cent.

"It was good for us to build up before next week," Davu said. "Three wins was great but there is still lots to work on."

Canterbury face Wellington and Otago in their final two section games, neither of which are expected to cause them too many difficulties. Their journey will become tougher in the crossover matches where they are likely to meet Waikato, Auckland Waitakere and Southland.

While the tournament is tiring on the body (the winners will complete seven games in six days) Davu says she enjoys it.

"I think everyone gets excited about going into a game each day ... you wake up in the morning and you are ready to play again."

For Davu, the tournament is an opportunity to test herself not only against her Silver Fern teammates but also some of the country's up-and-coming shooters who provide her with a different challenge.

"One thing that really excites me when I go on court is how the different shooters bring a different game. There is Irene van Dyk and Donna Loffhagen who are always challenging but then there are some new young shooters that are totally different. Sometimes they make us experienced players look like a fool on the court. That is one of the challenges of the game."

Canterbury last won the championship in 2002. They also won in 2001 beating the Ruth Aitken-coached Waikato in the final in overtime. Davu was part of both teams with former Ferns Seymour, Belinda Colling, Anna Rowberry and Belinda Charteris.

Davu says Seymour is amazing.

"She has three kids and is still in top form. She is the same as when she was playing in the New Zealand team. She is a great leader and a great role model for netballers. It is great for Canterbury to have a player of her calibre still in the side and still wanting to represent Canterbury."

While winning is Davu's main focus at the nationals, she will also be looking to ensure she maintains her spot in the New Zealand squad, named on the final day of the championship. The Silver Ferns side which will defend the world title will come from that squad.

The team to play Australia next month, which has already been named, includes five defenders - Davu, Anna Scarlett, Leana de Bruin, Casey Williams and Joline Henry - one of which will have to go if New Zealand are to go to the world champs with an even split of four shooters, four middies and four defenders.

"There are no guaranteed spots in the national team. I have to work hard, I have to do my job, I have to be on top of my game.

"At the moment there are five defenders and we have got amazing young defenders that are coming through - there is no way I can rest on my laurels. It is a world championship and everyone wants to be there."


Vilimaina Davu

Born: January 15, 1977
Height: 1.90m
Nickname: Vili or Shorty
Caps: 56 for NZ, 55 for Fiji
Career highlights
* 2000-2006: Silver Ferns squad. Member of 2003 world championship winning team and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning side.
* 2000-2006: Canterbury Flames, National Bank Cup team
* 2000-2006: Canterbury, national championship team.


Title trail

National championships:

The 12 first-grade teams have been divided into two sections. A round-robin is under way and finishes on Tuesday. Each section is then divided into a top three and bottom three. The top six and bottom six then play three more games against the teams from the other section on Wednesday and Thursday.

The teams are then ranked 1-12. The top four play off in semifinals (1 v 4, 2 v 3) and the winners meet in the final on Saturday.

The same system occurs for the middle four and bottom four teams.

Final section games

* Monday

Pool B: Western v Bay of Plenty, 2pm
Pool A: Eastern v Otago, 3.45pm
Pool B: Auckland Waitakere v Waikato, 5.30pm
Pool A: Wellington v Canterbury, 5.30pm
Pool A: North v Counties Manukau, 7.15pm
Pool B: Southland v Tasman, 7.15pm

* Tuesday

Pool A: North v Wellington, 12.15pm
Pool B: Waikato v Bay of Plenty, 12.15pm
Pool B: Auckland Waitakere v Southland 2pm
Pool A: Canterbury v Otago, 2pm
Pool A: Counties Manukau v Eastern, 3.45pm
Pool B: Tasman v Western, 3.45pm.