National Bank Cup
Encyclopedia
The National Bank Cup was the pre-eminent national netball
competition in New Zealand
between 1998 and 2007. From 2008, it was replaced by the ANZ Championship
.
system.
† Waikato/BOP Magic was given the home final, but the game had to be played in Invercargill due to the Mystery Creek Events Centre being used for the National Agricultural Fieldays
.
Originally called the Coca Cola Cup from 1998, the competition promised to enhance netball's profile in New Zealand. Nine franchises were announced by Netball New Zealand
in late 1997. The new teams included the Southern Sting
- a side based in Invercargill
that included star Silver Ferns Donna Loffhagen
and Bernice Mene
. Otago's Rebels
fielded an impressive line-up that included former, current and future Silver Ferns Jo Morrison, Belinda Colling
, Adine Harper
, Anna Rowberry and Belinda Charteris. Further north in Auckland, their city was represented by three teams. The CMTV Cometz featured the best from South Auckland, the Diamonds
represented Central Auckland and the highly fancied Northern Force
were based from the North Shore. In Christchurch
, the city welcomed to the sporting scene the Canterbury Flames
. A province with proud netball links, the Flames were made up of the talented netballers in the Canterbury region.
1998-2001
The 1998 season started with the Otago Rebels
named outright favourites to take the inaugural season. With six current, former or future Silver Ferns in their ranks, they came through season 1998 undefeated. The Invercargill based Southern Sting
were the surprise package during 1998. With two Silver Ferns at each end of the court, the Sting surprised all making their way to the grand final in Dunedin, going down to the Rebels 57-50. The Auckland Diamonds
, along with the Canterbury Flames
reached the top four. Flames were eliminated from the semi's in a game from Invercargill where they went down by a single goal. The Waikato Wildcats and Bay of Plenty Magic suffered large losses through-out the season and joined forces in 1999 to create the Waikato/BOP Magic.
The 1999 season promised to be just as exciting as the Coca Cola Cup's inaugural season. Like in 1998, the two southern sides Sting
and Rebels
came into the competition as the strongest. The Rebels retained their talented line-up of Silver Ferns, while Sting added to their roster, picking up English international Naomi Siddall as the teams import. The Auckland Diamonds
also came into the season as a threat, along with their northern rivals the Force
.
After nine rounds of the competition, the semi-finals began. The Sting fought off the Northern Force
in Invercargill 61-44, while the Rebels were also victorious. The Sting and Rebels met in the final for the second year in a row, but this time it was the Sting who celebrated by taking the title 63-54.
After the Rebels taking the 1998 title, and the Sting 1999, the competitions North Island teams fought hard in season 2000. The Auckland Diamonds
recruited smartly. Jamaican star Elaine Davis
was picked up as their marquee signing. The Northern Force
fielded as strong side also that included Tania Dalton
, Temepara George
and Linda Vangana. The two Auckland sides though, the Diamonds and Force failed to take the title, Diamonds finishing 6th and the Force reaching the semi-finals stage. In Wellington, the Capital Shakers
landed South African Irene van Dyk
. The 1.90m shooter helped the franchise on attack, but was unable to steer the team to the title. In the end, after three months of competition, the Sting took the title once again. After signing Lesley Nicol from the Rebels and retaining Silver Ferns Donna Loffhagen
and Bernice Mene
, the Sting were unstoppable. Winning back to back in front of their home fans in Invercargill
, they defeated the Canterbury Flames
43-40 in the final, in front of a capacity crowd of 4300.
Season 2001 had the Sting aiming for three years in a row. The Invercargill based franchise recruited well, retaining it's stars and adding another to the roster, in Adine Harper
. The Canterbury Flames
plotted a plan to take the cup as well. Finalists in 2000, the Flames welcomed Leigh Gibbs to the coaching bench and assembled a strong team that included Silver Ferns Angela Mitchell, Belinda Colling
, Julie Seymour
, Belinda Charteris and Vili Davu. The Capital Shakers made their second semi-finals appearance, but again like in season 2000, were unable to progress, beaten by eventual champions the Southern Sting
. The Sting made it three from four seasons defeating the Flames
again for the second consecutive year in the final from Invercargill
.
The Southern Sting
continued their dominance of the National Bank Cup, and would go on to win the competition again in 2002, 03 and 04. The Sting retained their core group of Donna Loffhagen
, Lesley Rumball and Adine Harper
, but lost the services of inspirational captain Bernice Mene
- who retired after the 2002 season. The Invercargill based franchise wasted no time to replace her, bringing in former Silver Fern and Canterbury Flames defender Anna Galvan
. The Sting's defeat over the Flames in the 2004 final 63-55 would be their last title for some time.
The Flames
would again fail to take the title, making the finals again in both 2002 and 2004. The Christchurch team showed promise on attack with the Silver Fern shooting pair of Jodi Te Huna
and Belinda Colling
impressive throughout the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Vili Davu and captain Julie Seymour
were the glue through the defence end and midcourt respectively.
The Wellington Shakers
made the finals in 2002, but struggled from 2003 - due to the departure of star Silver Fern Irene van Dyk
. van Dyk shocked officials in Wellington with the announcement that she would join the Waikato/BOP Magic. The Shakers never found their way back to the semi finals, struggling on attack and fielding a mostly inexperienced line-up.
In Auckland, the Northern Force
made their first National Bank Cup final in 2003. With Daneka Wipiiti
, Teresa Tairi, Temepara George
, Sheryl Scanlan
and Linda Vangana on board, the Force fielded the strongest line-up on paper. But they would fail to defeat the Sting at home in the 2003 final, going down by two goals, 51-49. The Force would make the semi final again in 2004, but were beaten by the Flames on the North Shore.
The Force's rivals the Auckland Diamonds
feared no better. 5th place getters in 2004, the Diamonds missed out on the chance to become the North Islands first winner. Anna Rowberry was impressive from the midcourt, but the team struggled to win when it counted - including a crucial loss to the Flames in regular play that confirmed their fate.
The Waikato/BOP Magic were estatic with the off season signing of Irene van Dyk
for 2003, and the team's fortunes turned from there. Semi finalists in 2003 and 2004, although failing to go all the way, Magic showed promise for the future. Van Dyk worked well in combination with GA Anna Senio and midcourters Laura Langman
and Amigene Metcalfe.
2005-2006
Champions changed for the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Waikato/BOP Magic shocking all by defeating the Southern Sting
, to take the title. The Magic, led by Silver Ferns Irene van Dyk
, Laura Langman
, Joline Henry
and Casey Williams
made history by becoming the first North Island team to win in 2005, with a 65-39 smashing over the former champions Southern Sting
. They backed things up in 2006 by re-gaining the title at home in Hamilton
with another large victory.
The Canterbury Flames
drifted down the pecking order in the final three seasons, struggling to make the finals - the Flames finishing a poor 5th in 2005. The Christchurch based side was over taken by the Auckland Diamonds
- as one of the 'big four teams', after the signings of several top class players. The Diamonds signed Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown
in 2005, along with former English international Jo Morrison, to compliment their four other international players.
The Northern Force
failed to perform with their talented roster, while the Capital Shakers
and Western Flyers
continued to struggle as the competitions cellar dwellers.
2007
2007 was dubbed the final season of The National Bank Cup. The Southern Sting
were fitting winners of the competition for the final time, defeating the Northern Force
in the grand final from Auckland
, 50-49. Sting coach Robyn Broughton featured in her 100th game, as the Sting ran winners. The franchise had secured the services of Silver Fern squad members Daneka Wipiiti
and Liana Barrett-Chase in the off season, after the loss of Tania Dalton
to retirement. The duo join Southern Sting veterans Donna Wilkins
, Adine Wilson
, Megan Hutton
and Jenny Ferguson.
The Otago Rebels
looked to make an improvement for 2007. They picked up the signature of Silver Fern Jodi Brown
from the Auckland Diamonds
, while added Australian Demelza McCloud to their backline. The Rebels though, finished a disappointing 6th. Their northern rivals Canterbury Flames
feared no better, finishing 5th.
In the North Island, the defending champions Waikato/BOP Magic made the semi final stage, but were defeated by two goals by the Sting in Invercargill. While the Northern Force
hosted the grand final for the first time. Boasting a line-up full of Silver Ferns, they could not make it a tenth time lucky - going down to the Sting, 50-49.
The Sting celebrated a week later in Invercargill
with a ticker tape parade, where mayor Tim Shadbolt
congratulated the team on their success throughout the ten year competition.
The eight franchises later amalgamated into five ANZ Championship
teams for the 2008 trans-Tasman season. The Southern Sting
and Otago Rebels
joined forces to create the Southern Steel
, while the Canterbury Flames
re-branded as the Tactix
. In Wellington
, the Capital Shakers
and the Flyers
formed the Central Pulse
, the Magic remained the status quo, while the Auckland Diamonds
and Force
welcomed the Mystics
.
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
competition in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
between 1998 and 2007. From 2008, it was replaced by the ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
.
Format
In the rounds, each team played every other team once, then the top four teams played off for the cup using the Page-McIntyreMcIntyre System
The McIntyre System, or systems because there have been five of them, is a playoff system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher...
system.
Teams
| Team | City | Home Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland Diamonds Auckland Diamonds The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup... |
Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... |
Trusts Stadium |
| Capital Shakers Capital Shakers The Capital Shakers were a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that competed in now defunct National Bank Cup competition. The Shakers franchise merged with the Western Flyers to form the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship-2007 Shakers Squad:... |
Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... |
TSB Bank Arena TSB Bank Arena The TSB Bank Arena, formerly known as the Queens Wharf Events Centre, is an indoor arena, located in Wellington, New Zealand. The arena hosts mainly basketball games and is the home arena for the Century City Saints and part-time home arena of the New Zealand Breakers when they play in Wellington,... |
| Canterbury Flames Canterbury Flames The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team... |
Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
Westpac stadium |
| Northern Force Northern Force The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics.... |
North Shore | North Shore Events Centre |
| Otago Rebels Otago Rebels The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup... |
Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... |
Edgar Centre |
| Southern Sting Southern Sting The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup.... |
Invercargill Invercargill Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,... |
Stadium Southland |
| Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic* | Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... |
Energy events centre |
| Western Flyers Western Flyers The Western Flyers were a New Zealand netball team which represented most of the Central, Southern and Eastern North Island in the National Bank Cup. The team was formed in 1998 and played all ten seasons of the competition... |
New Plymouth New Plymouth New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated.... , Wanganui Wanganui Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region.... , Napier Napier, New Zealand Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"... and Palmerston North Palmerston North Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank... |
|
| * Formed as an amalgamation of "Waikato Wildcats" and "Bay of Plenty Magic" in 1999 | ||
Defunct teams
- Counties Manukau Cometz (1998–2003)
- Waikato Wildcats (1998)
- Bay of Plenty Magic (1998)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Otago Rebels | Southern Sting | Edgar Centre, Dunedin | 57-50 |
| 1999 | Southern Sting | Otago Rebels | Edgar Centre, Dunedin | 63-54 |
| 2000 | Southern Sting | Canterbury Flames | Stadium Southland Stadium Southland Stadium Southland is an international sports complex in Invercargill, New Zealand. The stadium was completed in May 2000. The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with temporary seating... , Invercargill |
43-40 |
| 2001 | Southern Sting | Canterbury Flames | Stadium Southland Stadium Southland Stadium Southland is an international sports complex in Invercargill, New Zealand. The stadium was completed in May 2000. The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with temporary seating... , Invercargill |
47-44 |
| 2002 | Southern Sting | Canterbury Flames | Stadium Southland Stadium Southland Stadium Southland is an international sports complex in Invercargill, New Zealand. The stadium was completed in May 2000. The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with temporary seating... , Invercargill |
54-48 |
| 2003 | Southern Sting | Northern Force | Stadium Southland Stadium Southland Stadium Southland is an international sports complex in Invercargill, New Zealand. The stadium was completed in May 2000. The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with temporary seating... , Invercargill |
51-49 |
| 2004 | Southern Sting | Canterbury Flames | Stadium Southland Stadium Southland Stadium Southland is an international sports complex in Invercargill, New Zealand. The stadium was completed in May 2000. The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with temporary seating... , Invercargill |
63-55 |
| 2005 | Waikato/BOP Magic | Southern Sting | Stadium Southland Stadium Southland Stadium Southland is an international sports complex in Invercargill, New Zealand. The stadium was completed in May 2000. The main SBS Sports Arena in the stadium has a capacity of 4,500, with temporary seating... , Invercargill† |
65-39 |
| 2006 | Waikato/BOP Magic | Southern Sting | Mystery Creek Events Centre Mystery Creek Events Centre Mystery Creek Events Centre is a large events centre based in the outskirts of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is home to many events, the largest being the National Agricultural Fieldays which is held annually in June.... , Hamilton |
67-43 |
| 2007 | Southern Sting | Northern Force | North Shore Events Centre North Shore Events Centre North Shore Events Centre is an indoor arena, located in Auckland, New Zealand. The arena opened in 1992 and has a capacity of 4,500 people.The Centre primarily hosts basketball games and is the home arena of the New Zealand Breakers who play in the Australasian NBL. It also hosts concerts and... , Albany |
50-49 |
† Waikato/BOP Magic was given the home final, but the game had to be played in Invercargill due to the Mystery Creek Events Centre being used for the National Agricultural Fieldays
National Agricultural Fieldays
The National Agricultural Fieldays is an annual national agricultural show and Field day event held in Hamilton, New Zealand. It styles itself as "the biggest agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere"....
.
Early years: Coca Cola Cup
Franchise SetupOriginally called the Coca Cola Cup from 1998, the competition promised to enhance netball's profile in New Zealand. Nine franchises were announced by Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.Other competitions overseen include:*ANZ Championship – Premier Domestic Competition...
in late 1997. The new teams included the Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
- a side based in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
that included star Silver Ferns Donna Loffhagen
Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins is one of New Zealand's leading sportswomen, representing her country in both netball and basketball. She became married to Southland farmer Mike Wilkins on 17 March 2007...
and Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene MNZM is a New Zealand netball player.Mene represented New Zealand playing netball for the Silver Ferns for tens year, playing 78 tests. She captained the domestic team the Southern Sting from 1998–2003, with the team winning the National Bank Cup each year she captained except for...
. Otago's Rebels
Otago Rebels
The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup...
fielded an impressive line-up that included former, current and future Silver Ferns Jo Morrison, Belinda Colling
Belinda Colling
Belinda Louise Colling is a New Zealand international netball and women's basketball representative.-Netball career:...
, Adine Harper
Adine Wilson
Adine Rachel Wilson Harper is a New Zealand international netball representative.-Personal background:...
, Anna Rowberry and Belinda Charteris. Further north in Auckland, their city was represented by three teams. The CMTV Cometz featured the best from South Auckland, the Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
represented Central Auckland and the highly fancied Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
were based from the North Shore. In Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, the city welcomed to the sporting scene the Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
. A province with proud netball links, the Flames were made up of the talented netballers in the Canterbury region.
1998-2001
The 1998 season started with the Otago Rebels
Otago Rebels
The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup...
named outright favourites to take the inaugural season. With six current, former or future Silver Ferns in their ranks, they came through season 1998 undefeated. The Invercargill based Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
were the surprise package during 1998. With two Silver Ferns at each end of the court, the Sting surprised all making their way to the grand final in Dunedin, going down to the Rebels 57-50. The Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
, along with the Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
reached the top four. Flames were eliminated from the semi's in a game from Invercargill where they went down by a single goal. The Waikato Wildcats and Bay of Plenty Magic suffered large losses through-out the season and joined forces in 1999 to create the Waikato/BOP Magic.
The 1999 season promised to be just as exciting as the Coca Cola Cup's inaugural season. Like in 1998, the two southern sides Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
and Rebels
Otago Rebels
The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup...
came into the competition as the strongest. The Rebels retained their talented line-up of Silver Ferns, while Sting added to their roster, picking up English international Naomi Siddall as the teams import. The Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
also came into the season as a threat, along with their northern rivals the Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
.
After nine rounds of the competition, the semi-finals began. The Sting fought off the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
in Invercargill 61-44, while the Rebels were also victorious. The Sting and Rebels met in the final for the second year in a row, but this time it was the Sting who celebrated by taking the title 63-54.
After the Rebels taking the 1998 title, and the Sting 1999, the competitions North Island teams fought hard in season 2000. The Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
recruited smartly. Jamaican star Elaine Davis
Elaine Davis
Elaine Davis is a Jamaican international netball player. Davis debuted for the Jamaican national team during the 1995 Netball World Championships against Barbados, and has played goal shooter for most of her career. Throughout her career she competed in four Netball World Championships and three...
was picked up as their marquee signing. The Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
fielded as strong side also that included Tania Dalton
Tania Dalton
Tania Dalton is a New Zealand former international netball player. She currently works as a netball commentator on SKY Sports for international tests, the ANZ Championship and National Championships, alongside former internationals Anna Stanley, Natalie Avellino, Kathryn Harby-Williams and Bernice...
, Temepara George
Temepara George
Temepara Anne George , formerly Temepara Clark, is a New Zealand international netball player. She was a member of the Silver Ferns national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore...
and Linda Vangana. The two Auckland sides though, the Diamonds and Force failed to take the title, Diamonds finishing 6th and the Force reaching the semi-finals stage. In Wellington, the Capital Shakers
Capital Shakers
The Capital Shakers were a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that competed in now defunct National Bank Cup competition. The Shakers franchise merged with the Western Flyers to form the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship-2007 Shakers Squad:...
landed South African Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk, MNZM is one of the world's best-known netball players and the most capped player of all time....
. The 1.90m shooter helped the franchise on attack, but was unable to steer the team to the title. In the end, after three months of competition, the Sting took the title once again. After signing Lesley Nicol from the Rebels and retaining Silver Ferns Donna Loffhagen
Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins is one of New Zealand's leading sportswomen, representing her country in both netball and basketball. She became married to Southland farmer Mike Wilkins on 17 March 2007...
and Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene MNZM is a New Zealand netball player.Mene represented New Zealand playing netball for the Silver Ferns for tens year, playing 78 tests. She captained the domestic team the Southern Sting from 1998–2003, with the team winning the National Bank Cup each year she captained except for...
, the Sting were unstoppable. Winning back to back in front of their home fans in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
, they defeated the Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
43-40 in the final, in front of a capacity crowd of 4300.
Season 2001 had the Sting aiming for three years in a row. The Invercargill based franchise recruited well, retaining it's stars and adding another to the roster, in Adine Harper
Adine Wilson
Adine Rachel Wilson Harper is a New Zealand international netball representative.-Personal background:...
. The Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
plotted a plan to take the cup as well. Finalists in 2000, the Flames welcomed Leigh Gibbs to the coaching bench and assembled a strong team that included Silver Ferns Angela Mitchell, Belinda Colling
Belinda Colling
Belinda Louise Colling is a New Zealand international netball and women's basketball representative.-Netball career:...
, Julie Seymour
Julie Seymour
Julie Seymour, MNZM is a New Zealand netball coach, former international netball player and former representative middle distance runner. Seymour played for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, in 92 test matches spanning 16 years...
, Belinda Charteris and Vili Davu. The Capital Shakers made their second semi-finals appearance, but again like in season 2000, were unable to progress, beaten by eventual champions the Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
. The Sting made it three from four seasons defeating the Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
again for the second consecutive year in the final from Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
.
Revamp: National Bank Cup
2002-2004The Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
continued their dominance of the National Bank Cup, and would go on to win the competition again in 2002, 03 and 04. The Sting retained their core group of Donna Loffhagen
Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins is one of New Zealand's leading sportswomen, representing her country in both netball and basketball. She became married to Southland farmer Mike Wilkins on 17 March 2007...
, Lesley Rumball and Adine Harper
Adine Wilson
Adine Rachel Wilson Harper is a New Zealand international netball representative.-Personal background:...
, but lost the services of inspirational captain Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene
Bernice Mene MNZM is a New Zealand netball player.Mene represented New Zealand playing netball for the Silver Ferns for tens year, playing 78 tests. She captained the domestic team the Southern Sting from 1998–2003, with the team winning the National Bank Cup each year she captained except for...
- who retired after the 2002 season. The Invercargill based franchise wasted no time to replace her, bringing in former Silver Fern and Canterbury Flames defender Anna Galvan
Anna Galvan
Anna Galvan is a retired New Zealand netball player.- Domestic career :...
. The Sting's defeat over the Flames in the 2004 final 63-55 would be their last title for some time.
The Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
would again fail to take the title, making the finals again in both 2002 and 2004. The Christchurch team showed promise on attack with the Silver Fern shooting pair of Jodi Te Huna
Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown is a New Zealand netball player. Brown was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 2002–07, earning 28 caps...
and Belinda Colling
Belinda Colling
Belinda Louise Colling is a New Zealand international netball and women's basketball representative.-Netball career:...
impressive throughout the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Vili Davu and captain Julie Seymour
Julie Seymour
Julie Seymour, MNZM is a New Zealand netball coach, former international netball player and former representative middle distance runner. Seymour played for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, in 92 test matches spanning 16 years...
were the glue through the defence end and midcourt respectively.
The Wellington Shakers
Capital Shakers
The Capital Shakers were a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that competed in now defunct National Bank Cup competition. The Shakers franchise merged with the Western Flyers to form the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship-2007 Shakers Squad:...
made the finals in 2002, but struggled from 2003 - due to the departure of star Silver Fern Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk, MNZM is one of the world's best-known netball players and the most capped player of all time....
. van Dyk shocked officials in Wellington with the announcement that she would join the Waikato/BOP Magic. The Shakers never found their way back to the semi finals, struggling on attack and fielding a mostly inexperienced line-up.
In Auckland, the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
made their first National Bank Cup final in 2003. With Daneka Wipiiti
Daneka Wipiiti
Daneka Wipiiti is a New Zealand international netball player. She is currently in the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championship....
, Teresa Tairi, Temepara George
Temepara George
Temepara Anne George , formerly Temepara Clark, is a New Zealand international netball player. She was a member of the Silver Ferns national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore...
, Sheryl Scanlan
Sheryl Scanlan
Sheryl Scanlan is a New Zealand and Samoan international netball player. She played for the Northern Force in the National Bank Cup from 1998 until the conclusion in 2007, when the new ANZ Championship competition was announced, signing with the Northern Mystics for 2008. In 2009 though she has...
and Linda Vangana on board, the Force fielded the strongest line-up on paper. But they would fail to defeat the Sting at home in the 2003 final, going down by two goals, 51-49. The Force would make the semi final again in 2004, but were beaten by the Flames on the North Shore.
The Force's rivals the Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
feared no better. 5th place getters in 2004, the Diamonds missed out on the chance to become the North Islands first winner. Anna Rowberry was impressive from the midcourt, but the team struggled to win when it counted - including a crucial loss to the Flames in regular play that confirmed their fate.
The Waikato/BOP Magic were estatic with the off season signing of Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk, MNZM is one of the world's best-known netball players and the most capped player of all time....
for 2003, and the team's fortunes turned from there. Semi finalists in 2003 and 2004, although failing to go all the way, Magic showed promise for the future. Van Dyk worked well in combination with GA Anna Senio and midcourters Laura Langman
Laura Langman
Laura Langman is a New Zealand international netball player. Primarily a midcourt player, Langman is the captain of the New Zealand national netball team – the Silver Ferns, and also captains the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.-Early career:While still a student at Hillcrest...
and Amigene Metcalfe.
2005-2006
Champions changed for the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Waikato/BOP Magic shocking all by defeating the Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
, to take the title. The Magic, led by Silver Ferns Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk, MNZM is one of the world's best-known netball players and the most capped player of all time....
, Laura Langman
Laura Langman
Laura Langman is a New Zealand international netball player. Primarily a midcourt player, Langman is the captain of the New Zealand national netball team – the Silver Ferns, and also captains the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.-Early career:While still a student at Hillcrest...
, Joline Henry
Joline Henry
Joline Henry is a New Zealand netball player. Henry is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship....
and Casey Williams
Casey Williams
Casey May Williams, ONZM is a New Zealand international netball player. Williams is the current captain of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.Williams has been a member of the New Zealand national netball...
made history by becoming the first North Island team to win in 2005, with a 65-39 smashing over the former champions Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
. They backed things up in 2006 by re-gaining the title at home in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
with another large victory.
The Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
drifted down the pecking order in the final three seasons, struggling to make the finals - the Flames finishing a poor 5th in 2005. The Christchurch based side was over taken by the Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
- as one of the 'big four teams', after the signings of several top class players. The Diamonds signed Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown is a New Zealand netball player. Brown was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 2002–07, earning 28 caps...
in 2005, along with former English international Jo Morrison, to compliment their four other international players.
The Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
failed to perform with their talented roster, while the Capital Shakers
Capital Shakers
The Capital Shakers were a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that competed in now defunct National Bank Cup competition. The Shakers franchise merged with the Western Flyers to form the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship-2007 Shakers Squad:...
and Western Flyers
Western Flyers
The Western Flyers were a New Zealand netball team which represented most of the Central, Southern and Eastern North Island in the National Bank Cup. The team was formed in 1998 and played all ten seasons of the competition...
continued to struggle as the competitions cellar dwellers.
2007
2007 was dubbed the final season of The National Bank Cup. The Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
were fitting winners of the competition for the final time, defeating the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
in the grand final from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, 50-49. Sting coach Robyn Broughton featured in her 100th game, as the Sting ran winners. The franchise had secured the services of Silver Fern squad members Daneka Wipiiti
Daneka Wipiiti
Daneka Wipiiti is a New Zealand international netball player. She is currently in the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championship....
and Liana Barrett-Chase in the off season, after the loss of Tania Dalton
Tania Dalton
Tania Dalton is a New Zealand former international netball player. She currently works as a netball commentator on SKY Sports for international tests, the ANZ Championship and National Championships, alongside former internationals Anna Stanley, Natalie Avellino, Kathryn Harby-Williams and Bernice...
to retirement. The duo join Southern Sting veterans Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins is one of New Zealand's leading sportswomen, representing her country in both netball and basketball. She became married to Southland farmer Mike Wilkins on 17 March 2007...
, Adine Wilson
Adine Wilson
Adine Rachel Wilson Harper is a New Zealand international netball representative.-Personal background:...
, Megan Hutton
Megan Hutton
Megan Hutton is a New Zealand retired netball player. Hutton normally plays in the goal keeper position. She also played basketball for Southland....
and Jenny Ferguson.
The Otago Rebels
Otago Rebels
The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup...
looked to make an improvement for 2007. They picked up the signature of Silver Fern Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown is a New Zealand netball player. Brown was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 2002–07, earning 28 caps...
from the Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
, while added Australian Demelza McCloud to their backline. The Rebels though, finished a disappointing 6th. Their northern rivals Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
feared no better, finishing 5th.
In the North Island, the defending champions Waikato/BOP Magic made the semi final stage, but were defeated by two goals by the Sting in Invercargill. While the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
hosted the grand final for the first time. Boasting a line-up full of Silver Ferns, they could not make it a tenth time lucky - going down to the Sting, 50-49.
The Sting celebrated a week later in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
with a ticker tape parade, where mayor Tim Shadbolt
Tim Shadbolt
Timothy Richard "Tim" Shadbolt is a New Zealand politician. He is the Mayor of Invercargill and was previously Mayor of Waitemata City.-Early life:...
congratulated the team on their success throughout the ten year competition.
The eight franchises later amalgamated into five ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
teams for the 2008 trans-Tasman season. The Southern Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
and Otago Rebels
Otago Rebels
The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup...
joined forces to create the Southern Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
, while the Canterbury Flames
Canterbury Flames
The Canterbury Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team was one of the founding franchises in the National Bank Cup, formerly the premier netball competition in New Zealand , during which the team...
re-branded as the Tactix
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
. In Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, the Capital Shakers
Capital Shakers
The Capital Shakers were a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that competed in now defunct National Bank Cup competition. The Shakers franchise merged with the Western Flyers to form the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship-2007 Shakers Squad:...
and the Flyers
Western Flyers
The Western Flyers were a New Zealand netball team which represented most of the Central, Southern and Eastern North Island in the National Bank Cup. The team was formed in 1998 and played all ten seasons of the competition...
formed the Central Pulse
Central Pulse
The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an...
, the Magic remained the status quo, while the Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
and Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
welcomed the Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
.