National Bank Cup - Revamp: National Bank Cup

Revamp: National Bank Cup

2002-2004

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.