Northern Force Explained

Team Name:	Northern Force
Founded:
Disbanded:
Location:	North Shore, Auckland
Regions:	Auckland
Venue:	North Shore Events Centre
League:	Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup
Body1:	660033
Pattern B1:	thinblacksides
Skirt1:	660033

Northern Force are a former New Zealand netball team based on the North Shore, Auckland Region. As a result, they were also known as either North Harbour Force or North Shore Force. Between 1998 and 2007, Force played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. In 2003 and 2007, they played in the grand final. Ahead of the 2008 season, Force merged with Auckland Diamonds to form the new ANZ Championship team, Northern Mystics.

History

Founding members

In 1998, together with, Auckland Diamonds, Bay of Plenty Magic, Capital Shakers, Canterbury Flames, Counties Manukau Cometz, Otago Rebels, Southern Sting, Waikato Wildcats and Western Flyers, Force, were founding members of the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league.^{[1] [2]} Together with Cometz and Diamonds, Force were one of three teams from the Auckland Region to play in the league. Due to poor ticket sales, the three teams faced early suggestions that they should merge.^{[3] [4]}

Merger

Ahead of the 2008 season, Diamonds merged with Northern Force to form the new ANZ Championship team, Northern Mystics.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Home venues

Between 1998 and 2007, Force played out of the North Shore Events Centre.^[8]

Stats

Season	Position	Won	Drawn	Lost
1998	5th
1999	3rd
2000	4th
2001	5th
2002	3rd
2003	2nd
2004	4th
2005	3rd
2006	3rd
2007^[9]	2nd

Grand finals

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2003^[10] ^[11] ^[12]	Southern Sting	51–49	Northern Force	Stadium Southland
2007^[13] ^[14] ^[15]	Southern Sting	50–49	Northern Force	North Shore Events Centre

Notable former players

Internationals

Jenny-May Coffin Tania Dalton Vilimaina Davu Leana de Bruin

Temepara George Sonya Hardcastle Cathrine Latu Sheryl Scanlan

Lorna Suafoa Teresa Tairi Daneka Wipiiti Linda Vagana

• Megan Dehn

• Vilimaina Davu

• Cathrine Latu
• Sheryl Scanlan
• Lorna Suafoa

• Leana de Bruin

ANZ Championship players

• Brigette Tapene
• Angelina Yates

Captains

Coaches

Head coaches

Coach	Years
Mary Jane Araroa^[18]	1998
Alison Wieringa^[19]	1999
Maria Lynch^[20]	2000–2002
Yvonne Willering^[21] ^[22]	2002–2007

Main sponsors

Sponsors	Seasons
R'Toto^[23]	c. 2002
Fujifilm	200x–2007

Honours

• Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup
  • Runners Up: 2003, 2007

Notes and References

1. News: Celebrating 25 years of elite netball. anzpremiership.co.nz. 16 February 2022. 14 June 2022.
2. Web site: Sting History 1998. www.sting.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20060526172026/http://www.sting.co.nz/history/history_1998.html. 26 May 2006. 11 May 2023.
3. Web site: Netball: Coca-Cola Cup has lost its fizz for Auckland. www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. 9 May 2023.
4. Web site: ANZ Premiership: Mystics dedicate grand final win to late Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth. stuff.co.nz. 8 August 2021. 8 August 2022.
5. Web site: Netball: Nod to all five Tasman Trophy bids. www.nzherald.co.nz. 8 May 2007. 20 June 2021.
6. Web site: Mystics join forces. www.foxsports.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202951/https://www.foxsports.com.au/news/mystics-join-forces/news-story/c9b2371c2ba6cfd39fd78e9cc13eff2b. 24 June 2021. 6 April 2008. 22 June 2021.
7. News: A look back on the makings of the Mystics for Heritage Round. www.northernmystics.co.nz. 31 March 2023. 8 June 2023.
8. Web site: North Harbour left out in national sporting wilderness. stuff.co.nz. 3 February 2017. 10 June 2023.
9. Web site: Courtside Round Seven Review – Sting and Magic to host Semi Finals. scoop.co.nz. 5 June 2007. 3 June 2023.
10. Web site: Netball: Sting too strong for fading Force. www.nzherald.co.nz. 23 May 2003. 10 May 2023.
11. Web site: Sting History 2003. www.sting.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20060526172131/http://www.sting.co.nz/history/history_2003.html. 26 May 2006. 11 May 2023.
12. Web site: New Zealand. Netball Final. Southern Sting vs. Northern Force. www.photosport.nz. 23 May 2003. 9 May 2023.
13. Web site: Netball: Fairytale end to final chapter of league. www.nzherald.co.nz. 22 June 2007. 29 March 2010.
14. Web site: Photos: Fairytale ending to National Bank Cup. www.nzherald.co.nz. 22 June 2007. 3 June 2023.
15. Web site: National Bank Cup Final - Force v Sting . www.photosport.nz. 22 June 2007. 9 May 2023.
16. Web site: Netball: Why the Sting stand out above all. www.nzherald.co.nz. 18 June 2004. 10 June 2023.
17. Web site: Netball: Depleted Diamonds rise to the occasion. www.nzherald.co.nz. 14 May 2006. 10 June 2023.
18. Web site: Magic Name Mary-jane Araroa As New Coach For 2022 ANZ Premiership. www.scoop.co.nz. 28 July 2021. 5 July 2022.
19. Web site: Netball: Good therapy for the Force. www.nzherald.co.nz. 7 June 2007. 9 June 2023.
20. Web site: Netball: Lynch finds her head and heart give mixed signals. www.nzherald.co.nz. 23 May 2003. 6 June 2023.
21. Web site: Netball: Willering to coach Northern Force. www.nzherald.co.nz. 9 September 2002. 9 June 2023.
22. Web site: Netball: Immovable Force, or Sting in the tail?. www.nzherald.co.nz. 7 June 2007. 9 June 2023.
23. Web site: Netball: The National Bank Cup - Northern Force v Canterbury Flames . www.photosport.nz. 31 May 2002. 9 June 2023.