Netball: Shortage of ace shooters is exposed

New Zealand Silver ferns netball player Adine Harper. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

The naming of a midcourt-heavy side for next month's series against England confirms the Silver Ferns are still grappling with a lack of quality shooters.

Eighteen-year-old midcourter Laura Langman was the only new cap in the 12-strong team named to take on England yesterday.

Langman's inclusion comes at the expense of Waikato player Amigene Metcalfe, who made her debut during the series against Australia in November.

Joining her in midcourt will be Adine Wilson, whose inclusion capped off a great day for her and husband Jeff Wilson, who was named in the Black Caps side to play Australia.

Veteran midcourter Lesley Rumball will once again captain the side following the unavailability of Anna Rowberry through injury.

The mix of three shooters, five midcourt players and four defenders was expected because just three shooters - Irene van Dyk, Jodi Te Huna and Angela Mitchell - were in the New Zealand squad.

Hardly an ideal situation 13 months out from the Commonwealth Games, especially considering Te Huna and Mitchell have just 14 caps between them.

But coach Ruth Aitken has endured plenty of blows in the shooting department in the last year with the loss of Tania Dalton through injury then pregnancy and the unavailability of Belinda Colling and Donna Loffhagen.

While Loffhagen has pledged her allegiance to basketball, Aitken hinted yesterday that Colling, who is six months pregnant, and Dalton, who is returning to the game after knee surgery, still remain in the fray.

"We have been hit in the shooting circle most in the last year ... but in another six to eight months that may well change, with players being unavailable at the moment but perhaps looking to come back in.

"But at the same token we have to acknowledge that we need to develop more underneath."

Langman, who heads to Jamaica and the United States on Thursday with the New Zealand under-21 team for a two-week tour, has had a meteoric rise in the sport.

After breaking into the Magic side in 2003 she immediately impressed with her relentless defence and tireless work ethic.

She played a key role in Waikato's success in the 2003 National Provincial Championships and as a result was named in the New Zealand squad after the tournament.

The blonde haired, blue eyed youngster was absolutely gobsmacked by her inclusion in the squad back then. It was more sheer delight yesterday.

Langman was at the checkout counter in the supermarket with her mother when she received the call from Aitken.

"It was all very circus like, it was crazy," Langman said.

"My sister was like, 'Oh my god' and my brother, well he was just silent, he couldn't believe it."

Aitken said Langman's improvement and progress since her inclusion in the Silver Ferns squad had been "phenomenal".

"While she is only young in years I think she was performing at a level well beyond that so it was really a foregone conclusion."

Langman would battle it out with Rumball, Wilson, Temepara George and Victoria Edward for court time.

Aitken said she was keen to mix the five up and hoped to give Rumball and Edward time at centre and George more of a run at wing attack.

"Our aim is to be working towards the Commonwealth Games where we will be playing something like 10 games in 11 days so we need to ensure that all 12 players are at that level and are comfortable ... This is a great opportunity for us to continue that philosophy."

Silver Ferns

Vilimaina Davu (Canterbury Flames), Victoria Edward (Diamonds), Temepara George (Force), Joline Henry (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic), Laura Langman (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic), Angela Mitchell (Otago Rebels), Lesley Rumball (Southern Sting), Sheryl Scanlan (Force), Anna Scarlett (Otago Rebels), Jodi Te Huna (Diamonds), Adine Wilson (Southern Sting), Irene van Dyk (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic).

England tests

* North Shore: March 12

* Wellington: March 16

* Invercargill: March 19