Netball: Containing van Dyk menace

Katrina Grant
Katrina Grant
Steel defender Katrina Grant is sick of hearing how well her nemesis Irene van Dyk has been performing.

Remarkably, the Magic shooter has scored 98 goals in three ANZ Championship matches against the Steel without missing - not even once.

Standing under the hoop willing the ball to tumble your way has been like waiting in a queue.

It is excruciating but eventually you get to the front of the line.

So van Dyk must miss sooner or later, right?"Tell me about it," Grant exclaimed ironically when reminded of van Dyk's feat.

One of the most frustrating aspects of defending van Dyk is you think you have done a good job boxing her out and keeping her away from the goal, Grant said.

But then she closes the range with one giant stride.

"When she catches the ball you think she is going to get it on the outside of the circle but then she is right under the hoop. So it's like, well, what do we do? It's pretty tough but if we stick at it and make sure everyone is doing their job, then, hopefully, she'll miss one this time."

Grant will get her opportunity to stop van Dyk when the sides meet in Invercargill tonight.

Teams have attempted to cut off van Dyk's supply of ball with some success.

But if she is not slotting the goals, fellow Silver Ferns shooter Maria Tutaia is more than capable.

And therein lies the problem.

The Magic is such a talented side the opposition simply cannot afford to focus on one player.

Still, stopping van Dyk remains the Steel's best option, Grant believes.

"If we stop her getting the ball as many times as she has been in the last few games, then that should help us."

That plan worked for the Steel in Invercargill last year.

Van Dyk shot the perfect game but her contribution of 27 goals was not enough to secure the win.

Liana Barrett-Chase was outstanding in the midcourt and goal attack Megan Dehn made an impact when she came on at half-time.

There was also an air of complacency about the Magic's performance.

That should not be a problem tonight.

The team has been widely criticised despite winning six of its seven games.

The Hamilton-based side beat the Mystics comfortably in its last hit out but the side is far from its best.

Unimpressive performances against the Tactix and Pulse, and the 53-42 loss to the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane, suggests an upset is on the cards.

The Steel is coming off back-to-back wins and has been improving in each match.

And with four wins from six matches it is well-positioned.

Its wins, though, have come against the championship's three bottom-placed teams.

On the flip side, the two losses have come against the competition's heavyweights the Melbourne Vixens 48-31 and the Magic 54-47.

The Steel is approaching the game as a must-win.

A loss will not end its semifinal prospects but it will certainly make the road a lot harder.

 

Add a Comment