Southern Sting are a former New Zealand netball team that were based in Invercargill. Between 1998 and 2007, Sting played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. They were the league's most successful team. They played in all ten grand finals and won seven of the ten titles played for. Between 1999 and 2004, Sting won six successive titles. Ahead of the 2008 season, Sting merged with Otago Rebels to form the new ANZ Championship team, Southern Steel.
History Inaugural season In 1998, 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 were founding members of the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. On Friday, 27 March 1998, Sting made their league debut with a 55–51 win against Auckland Diamonds. The starting lineup included Reinga Bloxham, Kirsty Broughton, Donna Loffhagen and Bernice Mene. Sting finished their debut season as grand finalists and runners up. In the grand final they lost to Otago Rebels 57–50.
Sting dominance In 1999, Sting won their first Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup title. In the grand final, they defeated Otago Rebels 63–54. Sting were subsequently the league's most successful team. Between 1998 and 2007, they played in all ten grand finals and won seven of the ten titles played for. Between 1999 and 2004, Sting won six successive titles. The team was coached by Robyn Broughton and featured, among others, Donna Loffhagen, Bernice Mene, Belinda Colling, Tania Dalton, Lesley Nicol and Adine Harper. One reason behind Sting's success was that they were pioneers in women's professional sports. Bernice Mene was one of the first professional netball players in New Zealand. With Sting paying their players, they successfully recruited the best players from throughout New Zealand. In 2007, Sting won their seventh title. With a team featuring Liana Barrett-Chase, Daneka Wipiiti, Megan Hutton and Donna Wilkins, they defeated Northern Force 50–49 in the grand final. The grand final was Robyn Broughton's 100th match in charge of Sting.
Merger Ahead of the 2008 season, Sting merged with Otago Rebels to form the new ANZ Championship team, Southern Steel. Robyn Broughton was appointed Steel's first head coach and former Sting player, Megan Hutton, was named co-captain. Liana Barrett-Chase, Erika Burgess, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Wendy Telfer and Daneka Wipiiti, who were members of the 2007 Southern Sting squad were all included in the inaugural 2008 Southern Steel team.
Reunion On 23 July 2018, Southern Sting marked their 20th anniversary with a charity match against Netball South of the National Netball League. Organised by former Sting player, Donna Wilkins, the match raised $30,000 for the Tania Dalton Foundation. Former Sting player, Tania Dalton, died in 2017 of a brain aneurysm, aged 45. With a team coached by Robyn Broughton and featuring Wilkins, Bernice Mene, Belinda Colling and Natalie Avellino, Sting clinched a 51–50 victory over Netball South.
Stats Season Position Won Drawn Lost19982nd803 19991st802 20001st1000 20011st802 20021st1000 20031st901 20041st801 20052nd604 20062nd604 20071st802
Grand finals Coca-Cola Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue1998Otago Rebels57–50Southern StingEdgar Centre1999Southern Sting63–54Otago RebelsEdgar Centre2000Southern Sting43–40Canterbury FlamesStadium Southland2001Southern Sting47–44Canterbury FlamesStadium Southland
National Bank Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2002Southern Sting54–48Canterbury FlamesStadium Southland2003Southern Sting51–49Northern ForceStadium Southland2004Southern Sting63–55Canterbury FlamesStadium Southland2005Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic65–39Southern StingStadium Southland2006Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic67–43Southern StingMystery Creek Events Centre2007Southern Sting50–49Northern ForceNorth Shore Events Centre
Notable former players Internationals
Liana Barrett-Chase Julie Carter Belinda Colling Leana de Bruin Tania Dalton Anna Galvan Adine Harper Donna Loffhagen Bernice Mene Lesley Nicol Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit Wendy Telfer Daneka Wipiiti
Natalie Avellino
Naomi Siddall
Bulou Rabuka
Leana de Bruin
Captains YearsBernice Mene1998–2002Lesley Nicol2003–2005Adine Wilson2006Jenny Ferguson2007
Coaches Head coaches Coach YearsRobyn Broughton1998–2007
Assistant coaches Coach YearsTania Dalton2004 Julie Carter Belinda Colling2007
Honours Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup Winners: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 Runners Up: 1998, 2005, 2006
References