1998 Southern Sting season

Southern Sting
1998 season
Head coach	Robyn Broughton
Manager	Jackie Barron
Captain	Bernice Mene
Main venue	Centennial Hall
Season results
Wins–losses	8–3
Season placing	2nd
Team colours

The 1998 Southern Sting season saw the Southern Sting netball team compete in the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup league season. 1998 was the inaugural season for the league. Together with Auckland Diamonds, Bay of Plenty Magic, Capital Shakers, Canterbury Flames, Counties Manukau Cometz, Northern Force, Otago Rebels, Waikato Wildcats and Western Flyers, Sting became founding members of the new league. With a team coached by Robyn Broughton, captained by Bernice Mene and featuring Reinga Bloxham, Kirsty Broughton, Julie Carter and Donna Loffhagen, Sting finished the season as grand finalists and runners up. In the grand final they lost to Otago Rebels 57–50.

Players

1998 roster

1998 Southern Sting roster
Players	Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height Reinga Bloxham WD, C (aged 23) – Kirsty Broughton WD, C – Julie Carter GA,WA (1965-11-27)27 November 1965 (aged 32) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) Rachel Donnelly – Camille Grubb GS, GA – Michelle Krynen GD, GK – Donna Loffhagen GS, GA (1978-04-29)29 April 1978 (aged 19) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Tasha Marshall WD, C – Bernice Mene (c) GD, GK (1975-01-18)18 January 1975 (aged 23) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Debbie Munro GS, GA – Nicola Russell – Jo Tapper –	Head coach Robyn Broughton Manager: Jackie Barron Physiotherapist: Neil Familton Marketing & Events Manager: Liz McDonald Sponsorship Manager & Office Administrator: Robyn Koehler Notes (c) – Captain (cc) – Co-captain (vc) – Vice-captain – Injury / maternity leave (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

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Regular season

On Friday, 27 March 1998, Sting made their league debut with a 55–51 win against Auckland Diamonds. The starting lineup featured Donna Loffhagen and Camille Grubb in the shooting circle, Kirsty Broughton, Tasha Marshall and Reinga Bloxham through the mid-court and Bernice Mene and Michelle Krynen in defence. Debbie Munro entered the shooting circle in the third quarter.

Fixtures and results

Round 1

27 March	Southern Sting	55–51	Auckland Diamonds	Centennial Hall, Invercargill

Round 2

29 March	Canterbury Flames	53–55	Southern Sting	Christchurch

Round 3

3 April	Southern Sting	78–41	Waikato Wildcats	Centennial Hall, Invercargill

Round 4

5 April	Southern Sting	54–61	Otago Rebels	Centennial Hall, Invercargill

Round 5

12 April	Capital Shakers	48–50	Southern Sting	Wellington

Round 6

17 April	Northern Force	39–56	Southern Sting	Glenfield

Round 7

19 April	Counties Manukau Cometz	44–42	Southern Sting	Papatoetoe

Round 8

24 April	Bay of Plenty Magic	43–50	Southern Sting	Rotorua

Round 9

26 April	Southern Sting	68–48	Western Flyers	Centennial Hall, Invercargill

Source:

Finals series

Semi-final

2 May

Southern Sting

59–58

Canterbury Flames

Centennial Hall, Invercargill

Grand final

Sat, 10 May		Otago Rebels	57–50	Southern Sting		Edgar Centre
		Scoring by quarter: 13–12, 34–22, 38–49, 57–50
		Jo Steed  47/56 (84%) Belinda Colling  10/18 (56%)		Donna Loffhagen  38/51 (75%) Debbie Munro  12/15 (80%)

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