Check out the first days results and match reviews:
CANTERBURY SEAL TOP SPOT FOR SEMIFINALS
Canterbury took pole position with a 48-44 win over Pak’n Save Wellington at the completion of pool play at the Lion Foundation Netball Champs at Te Rauparaha Arena, in Porirua today.
Canterbury will meet fourth-placed Bay of Plenty in the semifinals tomorrow while Wellington will take on Otago, who finished third.
Twelve first grade regions have gone head-to-head around the country for four rounds in recent weeks before coming together for three days of finals in Porirua.
Today’s action provided the last of the round robin matches and confirmation of seedings across Divisions one and two.
Old rivals Canterbury and Wellington turned on a thriller, the result in doubt for much of the match as each experienced moments of superiority without completely dominating. Canterbury enjoyed a six-goal advantage more than once but couldn’t completely shake a dogged Wellington, who created patches of inspiring play as they kept the contest alive.
Peppered with ANZ Championships players, the match was played at a high intensity ``We wanted that No 1 spot and we wanted to win that game today and take it,’’ Canterbury captain Anna Galvan said.
``It is a factor in the back of our minds that we want to defend our title, particularly because of all the hardship that’s going on in Canterbury at the moment….we want to do any little positive thing we can for the province.’’
OTAGO v BAY OF PLENTY
Promoted back to Division One at the end of last season, Bay of Plenty held a narrow advantage through a tight first half before Otago threw in an unstoppable second half challenge.
The introduction of Greir Campbell at goal defence and the sure shooting of Te Paea Selby-Rickit aided the Otago resurgence while Bay of Plenty lost their structure as a rash of errors crept in.
CHOP CHOP AUCKLAND WAITAKERE V ASCOT PARK HOTEL SOUTHLAND
While it did not change their final position of sixth and a second outing against Southland, Auckland Waitakere turned on their best performance of a disrupted season, the young team from the City of Sails upsetting the southerners with a gutsy 54-44 win.
It is the first time since 2006 that Auckland Waitakere will not feature in the final but after losing the influential trio of Cathrine Latu, Kayla Cullen and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick to Silver Ferns duty, the team’s youngsters put on a spirited showing against a talented Southland.
Playing all 12 of their squad throughout the match, Auckland Waitakere managed to edge ahead on several occasions only to be reeled in by the southerners. However, the skills of New Zealand secondary school goal attacks, Kendra Falefitu and Tera Maria Amani, who had half a game each, the through-court link of wing defence Portia Woodman and the aerial skills of goalkeeper Rachel Rasmussen helped diffuse Southland’s challenge.
``We’ve had a pretty grinding NPC and it was good to see when we reduce the errors, which has been a feature of our games, what can happen,’’ Auckland Waitakere coach Te Aroha Keenan said.
``Southland are a tough team with some physically strong players and while it doesn’t change our position at this stage, to start the week like this is a real positive and we can take heart.’’
TRUST WAIKATO v NORTH
After an evenly contested first quarter, Waikato exploded into life with a rampant second stanza for their all-important clash against North. Taking a 10-goal lead into halftime set the platform for Waikato’s 60-45 win on the back of a lower turnover count.
It was all smiles afterwards from Waikato youngster Katherine Coffin, the 21-year-old playing her first-ever match at wing defence, and ultimately getting one over her more illustrious aunt, former Silver Fern Jenny-May Coffin. Family pecking order counted for little as the younger Coffin more than made up for the 16-year age difference.
``I really enjoyed my first time at wing defence and playing Jenny-May for the first time,’’ Katherine Coffin said.
``That was a really important game for us and adds some real meaning to the rest of the week and the opportunity to play promotion-relegation.’’
The win ensured second spot in Division two for Waikato, where they have languished for the past two years, behind Western and gives both the chance to make the play-off match and elevation to Division one for next year.
WESTERN v AIR NEW ZEALAND TASMAN
PIC INSURANCE BROKERS COUNTIES MANUKAU v PLUS REHAB EASTERN
Counties Manukau dished out a 30-goal 57-27 win over Eastern, steadily increasing their lead throughout a one-sided encounter. NZU21 player Kirtsen Hurley was a standout at wing defence for Counties Manukau, collecting four intercepts, three deflections and a no turnovers in a fine effort.