Emerging from closely fought curtain-raisers, Christchurch Red and Auckland will contest the final of the NetballSmart Netball NZ Open Champs when they compete for the New Zealand Cup in Dunedin on Saturday.
Befitting of their status, both semi-finals were entertaining and closely-contested match-ups with Christchurch Red coming out 33-29 winners over Hamilton City while Auckland squeezed past Counties Manukau Cluster 41-39.
In a low-scoring spectacle which highlighted the defensive qualities of both ends, Christchurch Red held the slightest of edges throughout against Hamilton City, the southerners winning the turnover battle with defenders Charlotte Knight and Manaia Feather picking up key gains.
Leading 10-8 at the first break, in the only quarter to reach double figures, the stalemate continued for the remaining three-quarters. The Christchurch Red shooters, where goal attack Vika Koloto played an impressive role with 19 from 21, were slightly more accurate than their opposites which helped them gain an all-important 18-14 lead at the main break.
With a sprinkling of current and past elite level players in both teams, no quarter was given with Christchurch Red maintaining their edge through the third quarter and marginally increasing their lead to 25-20 at the last turn.
In a goal-for-goal final stanza, Hamilton City were able to peg back one goal but that was as good as it got for last year’s runners-up. Shooter Kate Taylor was a strong performer under the hoop for Hamilton City with a 24 from 27 return but it was four more attempts at goal for Christchurch Red that proved the difference.
Auckland and Counties Manukau Cluster delivered a thriller in the opening semi-final which remained tight throughout and provided plenty of nip and tuck. Fortunes went one way and then other in an even contest before Auckland prevailed by the narrowest of margins over their near neighbours.
Clinical shooting from both sides was a key feature during the opening 12-minute first quarter with all four shooters rising to the occasion and missing just one shot between them in the opening 24 goals.
It was Counties Manukau who got the late break which helped push them to a narrow 13-11 opening lead.
Auckland got away to a storming start on the resumption, scoring the first six goals while chewing up over half of the second stanza and streaking out to a four-goal advantage
Counties Manukau rebounded strongly to narrow the gap to one, Auckland repelling the challenge and turning the tables to lead 20-18 at the main break.
With centre Samon Nathan dominating the circle feeds for the Auckland side, her distribution work to trusty shooters Crystal Maro and Jamie Hume paid dividends. Flexing their collective muscle, Auckland forged a five-goal buffer but Counties Manukau were far from done.
Equally impressive shooting from Jaelin Tulikaki had Counties Manukau roaring back and pinching a 31-30 lead at three-quarter time.
Edging back in front, Auckland continued to apply the pressure while stretching out to a five-goal lead with just over three minutes to play. As they had done throughout, Counties Manukau stuck to their guns to finish strongly before ultimately running out of time.
With each team having 47 shots at goal, 23 from 28 from Hume, 10 from 11 for Maro and eight from eight for Lavina Lavea proved key for Auckland. Tulikaki had an impressive game-high 31 from 34 for Counties Manukau.
In the morning’s quarter-final results, Auckland pipped Tauranga 35-32 in the narrowest of the four matches. Tauranga were the more accurate with shooter Ivana Rowland converting an impressive 21 from 22 but Auckland enjoyed a superior possession rate, which was reinforced by nine clean intercepts.
The other quarter-finals were more one-sided with Counties Manukau Cluster overcoming Invercargill 52-39, while Hamilton City kept their hopes on track with a convincing 45-26 win over Manawatu, and Christchurch Red with a 49-39 win ended North Harbour’s chances of a second straight title.