Adrian Seconi

Auckland left-armer Michael Bates exploited the conditions beautifully to put his side in a good position on the opening day of the Plunket Shield match against Otago at the University Oval yesterday.

Dual netball and basketball international Donna Wilkins knows a fair bit about shooting and reckons Julianna Naoupu has what it takes to succeed at the top level.

Southern Steel defender Katrina Grant is the first to admit she had a horror start to the ANZ Championship.

Three busloads of Southlanders are destined for the Lion Foundation Arena would likely have been described as an invasion of sorts last year.

Otago Nuggets coach Don Sims left Dunedin bound for Seattle yesterday, his future with the franchise in limbo.

Melancholy and the Otago Nuggets go together like fish and chips.

Even West Coast Fever coach Sue Gaudion had to laugh at the irony of an indoor game being called off because the surface was too wet to continue.

In less than impressive fashion the Hawkes Bay Hawks ground their way to an inevitable victory against the Otago Nuggets at the Lion Foundation Arena in Dunedin on Saturday night.

The Southern Steel was touted as a play-off contender by many, but midway through the inaugural ANZ Championship it is clear the Otago-Southland combined side has struggled to match the billing. Netball writer Adrian Seconi casts an eye ahead.

The Otago Rebels have gone and the Otago Nuggets could be the next franchise to disappear from Dunedin.

Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg has called for more consistency from the umpires after she was left bewildered with some of the calls during her side's 46-47 loss to the Southern Steel at Stadium Southland on Saturday.

Former Silver Fern turned television commentator Tania Dalton has made a surprise comeback from retirement to help the injury-plagued Southern Steel today.

The Otago Nuggets' tumultuous season has taken a turn for the worse, with general manager Warrick Diack quitting after a dispute over money.