Mene mum on future as Sting celebrate
From STUFF, 10 June 2002

Netball great Bernice Mene has yet to decide on her playing future but she had an ideal farewell present when the Southern Sting won their fourth successive national title on Saturday night.

In front of a packed house at Stadium Southland, among them her family and fiance Dion Nash, Mene was superb, providing vital intercepts in each quarter as the Canterbury Flames were beaten 54-48.

Mene said she would delay any public announcement on her future until later this year.

She has an overseas trip and a wedding to plan, but Sting fans voted en masse for her return after their team's National Bank Cup final win over the Canterbury Flames.

It marked the third successive year that the Sting had beaten the Flames in the final.

With time clicking down in the final quarter, Mene said she felt the momentum swing the way of her team.

"I think you could feel the surge with eight minutes to go and the lift in team spirit.

"I thought, right until the last minute, they are going to come back. Even when I saw 55 seconds on the clock I thought they are going to come back."

Sting goal shoot Tania Dalton said Mene's cool demeanour had been been a big reason for the Sting's victory.

"I was quite calm the whole game, we had a lot of stop-starts and the words Bernie were using were quite inspirational, it just keeps everyone calm."

That's not to say Dalton wasn't moved by the occasion.

"It's such a wicked feeling, with about a minute and a half to go I started getting tears in my eyes.

"I'm quite an emotional person and even running out (before the game) it was just amazing. I've never felt anything like it. I've played tests for New Zealand but this is just an amazing feeling."

Dalton shot 90 percent for the game and didn't miss a goal in the first half, sending a clear message to Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken that she is ready for a recall to the national team she last represented in South Africa in 2000.

The Sting showed a steely resolve to defend their crown.

Despite going into the final 15 minutes of the season just one goal ahead, there was no denying the Sting as they put a full court press on the Flames attack.

The home team's organised and patient game plan eventually proved too much for the Flames, who refused to lie down until the final minutes of the game.

The Flames won the opening quarter 15-13 before the Sting edged in front 27-24 at halftime.

Flames coach Margaret Foster had her team fired up for the start of the second half and they responded by taking a 32-28 lead.

The Sting were then back in front 39-38 win going into the final quarter.

The Sting have made an art form this season out of finishing strongly and their defence lifted to the point of strangulation.

It took the Flames four minutes to register their first goal of the final quarter.

With the Sting moving out to a 46-41 lead, Jo Tapper forced two turnovers, the home team jumped out to a 50-42 lead, and the cup was secured for another season.

>> STUFF website

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