The Waikato-BOP Matarau’s slim chances of making the Synergy Hair Netball League Grand Final have been snuffed out after a one-goal loss to the Northern Marvels.
Matarau threw everything at the Marvels at Globox Arena in Hamilton on Saturday, knowing that only a win would keep their hopes of making the top two, but fell short losing 54-55 and effectively ending their season.
In the other National Netball League match played over the weekend, the unbeaten Mainland side cemented their spot in the top two on the ladder with a come from behind 53-50 win over the defending champion Comets at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch on Sunday.
The win now leaves the third-placed Central Manawa fighting for the second spot in the 5 July Grand Final to be played at TSB Arena in Wellington and are at home against Mainland next week in the final round robin game where they will need victory to progress.
Saturday’s game however was Matarau’s last chance to keep their season alive and despite a fast finish, their first quarter wobbles proved difficult to overcome in what was a highly defensive game.
Both teams took time to settle into their rhythm, made more difficult by the strong defensive starts and it was the Marvels who found their form first, building a 6-2 lead.
Bookended with ANZ Premiership players at either end of the court in the form of Charlotte Manley in defence and Hannah Glen in the shooting circle, the Marvels piled the pressure on the hosts and doubled their score heading into the last five minutes of the opening spell, for a commanding 20-7 advantage at the break.
With the Marvels finding plenty of space through court and moving the ball with speed, Matarau were forced to tighten their defence on the resumption of play and with the injection of Waikato-BOP Magic shooter Kate Taylor, the hosts started to make an inroad into the deficit.
Unforced errors marred their performance early in the second quarter, but the work of Brooklyn Murray – who picked up three gains from her side in the spell – along with a couple of super shots from Grace Namana and one from Taylor helped the hosts to go into the main break trailing 25-34.
With their season on the line, Matarau again came out with plenty of intent led by captain and midcourter Ariana Cable-Dixon who proved to be a vital link on what was a difficult transition from defence onto attack.
Patience was key against a tight Marvels defence, and it took until the last five minutes of the quarter before they were able to find their target with Namana netting two more super shots to close the gap to 38-43 with 15 minutes to play.
Matarau crept closer early in the deciding spell and with just four points difference it was the Marvels who responded, and they again opened what looked like a match-winning difference of nine goals.
But the defensive combination of Murray and Charlice Bryce at goal defence mounted and some key turnovers heading into the last super shot scoring opportunity gave the hosts hope.
Namana stepped up with two straight two-pointers to leave just two points difference which prompted a defensive personnel change with four minutes to play, injecting Manley and Courtney Katterns back into the game.
Two one pointers from Marvels shooter Priscilla Rasmussen settled things for the visitors as they held their composure in a tense final minute of play.