Beko Netball League - Round 3 Preview

2016 BEKO NETBALL LEAGUE - ROUND 3 PREVIEW

Thursday 21 April, 2016

Round 3 Fixture
Netball WBOP v Netball Central
2.30pm, Sunday 24 April
Aquinas College, Tauranga

Netball South v Netball Mainland
6pm, Sunday 24 April
ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Broadcast: LIVE on SKY Sport 3 from 5.45pm (check local guides)
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Home advantage gives South edge

Three straight home games could be enough to give South the upper hand in the Beko Netball League with Invercargill famous for its support.

South will be out for a second straight win when they host Mainland at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill on Sunday.

Backed by a vocal home crowd, South held on for a three-goal win over Northern in the first round and has had a week off to prepare for the Round 3 match against a Mainland side which suffered a 10-goal loss last week. They also have a Round 4 match against Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty (WBOP) at home before hitting the road.

South was buoyed by Abby Erwood on defence in the 46-43 win over Northern with the Southern Steel squad member picking up two intercepts and five deflections.

Erwood and experienced campaigner Sarah Hamilton have formed a strong unit early in the season, forcing their opponents to shoot from wide out and picking up some timely rebounds.

Mainland’s shooters took some time to find their radars in the 10-goal loss to WBOP last week – the pairing of Bella James and Caitlin Dowden adding some steel in the second half – and it will get no easier over the long lean of Erwood.

The midcourt match-up between Mainland’s Hannah Poff and Hayley Crofts could set the tone for what pace the game will be played at – both former ANZ Championship players providing vital links in their season openers.

Poff and livewire wing Tori Harding add plenty of impetus to Mainland’s frontline but will be out to tidy up their turnovers against South.

Meanwhile, Round 2 winners WBOP take on Central at Aquinas College in Tauranga on Sundayafternoon and will be favoured to pick up their second victory.

WBOP impressed in their first Beko Netball League match with a comfortable win spearheaded by a strong defensive effort from Kate Elmer and accurate shooting from Monica Falkner.

The Beko Netball League runs over 12 weekends with a double round-robin culminating in a Grand Final in Auckland on June 26.

Useful Links
FOLLOW: Draw and Results (including Match Centre)
READ: Team Lists
WATCH: Beko Netball League launch
ENDS.

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