Netball: Van Dyk and co give coach a perfect send off

Auckland Waitakere 38 Waikato 40

Joline Henry let slip that Waikato coach Nicole Dryden was stepping down as coach after last night. That being the case, defender Henry and her teammates sent her out on the perfect note after a come-from-behind victory.

Midway through the third quarter Waikato looked lost facing a four-goal deficit but climbed home on the back of uber-shooter Irene van Dyk.

In the end van Dyk, with a 32 from 34 display, won a points decision over her rival Anna Scarlett and that was enough for Waikato to scrape home.

Auckland goalkeep Scarlett might have won man of the match, but van Dyk and her Waikato team took home the trophy that mattered, atoning somewhat for their shock loss to North in the final last year.

Van Dyk's 95 per cent shooting statistics this week place her in a different stratosphere to her rivals. Tutaia had been shooting at a creditable 82 per cent, Griffin 77 and recalled Silver Fern Tania Dalton at 79.

The shooter's battle with Auckland goal keep Scarlett promised to be the highlight of the night and it didn't disappoint. Scarlett and defensive colleague Stephanie Bond have formed a formidable combination. Too formidable for some, particularly North coach Melissa Walker who, after seeing her defending champions dip out to Auckland on Thursday, accused umpires of being too lenient on the duo.

Walker's argument, which is hard to argue against, is that Scarlett in particular has a habit of contacting opponents on the descent from her considerable leaping ability. Walker would no doubt find an ally for her beliefs in van Dyk who earlier this week accused her Silver Ferns teammates of tackling opponents.

But if Bond and Scarlett are netball's answer to backyard brawlers van Dyk is not one to be cowed and Scarlett's look of frustration towards the end of the match was testament to that.

Scarlett got the first points on the board with a timely intercept but by midway through the first quarter it was she who was calling for medical attention as van Dyk's long limbs connected with her head. Netball as a non-contact sport is a spurious claim at best.

Even if van Dyk had Scarlett's measure, Bond wasn't making life easy for Waikato goal attack and granddaughter of Colin Meads, Hayley Stockman, forcing her into a couple of 'hail Mary's' early in the match. It seemed to affect her confidence, by the end of the first half she was declining mid-range shots, allowing Bond and Scarlett to double-team van Dyk.

At the other end Tutaia and new Silver Fern Paula Griffin had to rely on pace and guile rather than height to work around international defenders Casey Williams and Joline Henry.

Auckland were clinging to a tenuous one-goal lead at the first break but took control towards the end of the half, particularly when Tutaia found her range from distance.

Waikato looked ragged while Auckland looked polished, scoring seven unanswered goals. Towards the end of the third quarter a huge momentum shift saw the sides draw level at 27-all, prompting Auckland coach Paula Bailey to call a timeout.

Waikato grabbed an early lead in the final quarter and only a piece of Tutaia individual brilliance kept the Aucklanders in the hunt, passing the ball to herself off the goalpost.

First quarter 10-9; halftime 23-19; third quarter 31-31.