With just one round of pool play remaining, a tight race has emerged for several teams hoping to keep their top eight hopes alive at the NetballSmart Netball NZ Open Champs in Auckland.
After an eventful second day’s play at Pulman Arena on Wednesday, three teams in three of the four pools remain in contention for a place in Friday’s quarter-finals with plenty hinging on the outcome of final pool matches tomorrow.
Defending champions Auckland sit in the box seat in Pool A with maximum points after securing two straight wins. In the pool of death, Auckland took a big step forward when completing a tight 46-43 win over Cambridge today.
Trailing by one goal after the first quarter, a strong middle two quarters where they out-pointed Cambridge by seven goals, Auckland had to fend off a strong final quarter from their opponents before securing the win.
Tucked in two points behind Auckland are cross-town rivals Waitākere, the pair meeting tomorrow in what is shaping as a crunch showdown. Waitākere had a comprehensive 88-19 win over Manawatu White in today’s action.
Depending on the outcome between the top two, Cambridge remains in with a shout.
Pool B is a little more clearcut with Christchurch and Dunedin flying the flag for the South Island, both remaining on maximum points after completing their second straight wins.
With a personal haul of 31 goals, Christchurch goal shoot Olivia Dijkstra was a dominant and accurate force under the hoop for the southerners in their closely-fought 45-40 win over Manawatu Green while Dunedin had a more comfortable win when prevailing 44-27 over Noku Hawke’s Bay.
Following a strong 56-36 win over Tauranga, an unbeaten Counties Manukau top Pool C with a battle looming behind them between Tauranga and Howick Pakuranga for second spot in the pool.
Pool D, which has five teams compared to the other pools of four, Hamilton City and North Harbour are well-placed to advance but the impressive Kerikeri are not totally out of the picture, needing to secure another win and for results to go their way, to achieve an unexpected top-eight spot.
Hamilton City have three wins from three outings, putting the polish on today’s match with a 65-18 win over Taranaki. Abby Bartels with 38 goals and Ivana Rowland with 27 shared the shooting roles expertly in cementing the big win.
That was backed up by an important 53-32 win over Wellington in their second match of the day.
North Harbour have rebounded strongly from a draw on the opening day to secure another two wins, a dominant 81-19 win over Taranaki leaving them just two points behind Hamilton City.
Led by the Mather sisters, Lisa and Holly, surprise package Kerikeri held their composure to deliver a confidence-boosting 50-41 win over Wellington to keep their hopes alive.
“This is an awesome opportunity for these Centres from around the country – all the players in these ‘smaller’ Centres to be exposed to ANZ Premiership coaches and players,’’ Netball NZ National Selector Panel Convenor Adrianne Hayes said.
``It’s really exciting to see these players being able to match-up and compare their skillsets with some of the more experienced players from all around the country.”
Given it is a five-day tournament, the selectors are also mindful that the conditioning of teams will be telling heading into the business end of the event.
The top eight will be determined after tomorrow’s final round of pool matches with the quarter and semi-finals being played on Friday.
The Grand Final will be played at 1pm on Saturday.