Lion Foundation Netball Champs Finals

Lion Foundation Netball Champs Finals

4.10.12 - Otago and Trust Waikato to contest Grand Final of Lion Foundation Netball Champs

Thursday 4th Oct

All games must play to a result - NO DRAWS
First Grade cross over games
Time Court Division Team 1 Score vs Team 2 Score
9.00am 1 2 Div 2/3rd Counties Manukau 68 vs Div 2/6th Eastern 41
10.45am 1 2 Div 2/4th Southland 59 vs Div 2/5th Tasman 32
12.30pm 1 1 Div 1/5th Wellington 54 vs Div 1/6th Bay of Plenty 41
2.15pm 1 2 Div 2/1st Western 53 vs Div 2/2nd North 46
4.00pm 1 1 Div 1/1st Canterbury 50 vs Div 1/4th Otago 61
5.45pm 1 1 Div 1/2nd Waikato 61 vs Div 1/3rd Auckland Waitakere 49
Friday 5th Oct
All games must play to a result - NO DRAWS
First Grade
Time Court Division Team 1 Score vs Team 2 Score
9.00am 1 2 (3/4th playoff) Counties Manukau vs Southland
9.15am 2 2 (5/6th playoff) Eastern vs Tasman
10.45am 1 1 & 2 (Promo/Relagation) Wellington vs North
12.30pm 1 1 (3rd/4th playoff) Canterbury vs Auckland Waitakere
2.15pm 1 1 & 2 (Promo/Relagation) Bay of Plenty vs Western
4.00pm 1 1 (GRAND FINAL) Otago vs Waikato
5.45pm - PRESENTATIONS

FEATURE MATCH - DIVISION ONE

Semi Final: Otago defeat Canterbury 61-50

Otago is through to the Grand Final and will play against Trust Waikato at 4pm on Friday after they defeated Canterbury in the semi-final 61-50.

A true game of two halves, the ever-steady Canterbury were dominant in the first half, only to be stunned by a slick new Otago attacking line that seemed to be all it took to get the girls in blue firing.

Otago, who finished 4th after pool play, were exciting, fresh and dynamic to watch. The team, the majority of who played for Otago U21 at NZ Age Groups this year, were well-drilled, fit and prepared to do whatever it took to book a spot in the final.

They say you will always have one bogie team and for Canterbury it may just be Otago. Otago were the only team to defeat the 2011 Champions in the Round Robin build up heading into Finals. With Silver Fern Squad Member and captain Anna Thompson back in the mix after missing that game due to being called up for the New World Netball Series v Australia, Canterbury looked to open their semi-finals campaign composed and ready to execute their game play.

Scoring off their own and safely slotting away any positive turnovers in the first half, Canterbury steadily increased their lead over Otago. Every player on court from Goal Shoot to Goal Keep was alert both on attack and defence, creating an energy for Canterbury that lead them to be up 30-24 at half time. Even at Goal Attack, Ellen Halpenny managed to sneak through to pull in some impressive steals.

Goal Keep Jane Watson, a late inclusion to the Tactix in 2011 was impressive in defence for Canterbury, managing to contain prolific Otago Goal Shoot Te Paea Selby-Rickit during the first half and with the likes of Bessie Manu pulling in some spectacular intercepts in the pocket at Wing Defence, Canterbury grew with confidence.

Halpenny (GA) and Sophia Fenwick (GS) were in fine form, seemingly undeterred by ex-Australian International and Otago Goal Keep Demelza McCloud.

… But then along came Otago Goal Attack Kate Shearer.

Taking to the court for Otago in the 2nd half, Shearer had everything to prove and everything to gain as the mission to pull back her teams deficit could have been a daunting task. Opening up the attacking third and drawing the Canterbury defenders to leave a one-on-one situation for Selby-Rickit under the hoop was all it took for a flurry of goals to come Otago’s way.

Misunderstandings in the Canterbury attacking line gave the opportunity for Otago defenders McCloud and NZU21 player Storm Purvis(GK) to get back in the game. Snatching every rebound and loose ball meant that Otago doubled their chances of scoring down the other end. The fresh legs of Shearer, the supreme fitness of Centre Shannon Francois and the cunningness of Wing Attack Gina Crampton saw Otago literally ran away with the win 60-51.

FEATURE MATCH - DIVISION TWO

1st/2nd Division Two playoff: Western defeat North 53-46

The top placed Division Two teams Western and North went head to head this afternoon to vie for the ultimate position that will give them the best chance of being promoted to Division One.

Western, having not dropped a match in their 2012 campaign to date, were not ready to give an inch and ruin their winning streak. With guts and determination they defeated an ever resolute North team 46-53.

It was a game of frustration for North as they proved time and time again they had the ability to match the skill of Western but were unable to sustain any fight-back, at times getting to within one point only to go back down to a seemingly unreachable goal difference.

Missing their starting Goal Shoot Chantelle Ngaia, who sustained an injury in yesterday’s match against Counties Manukau, Western soldiered on, stepping up when the game got close, stunting any comeback effort from North.

The defensive end for North in the first quarter included exciting and powerful South African International Amanda Mynhart who was excellent at disrupting the flow between Western Goal Attack Amber Bellringer and Goal Shoot Rebecca Jury. But it was the chasing of loose ball that Western came up trumps, North guilty of being caught ball-watching at times.

Western Centre Lauren Burgess was pivotal in keeping her teams composure, working her way with patience onto the circle edge, but it was Bellringer who was creating the plays and the space which saw Western shoot quickly out to a 7 goal lead in the opening stanza.

North Goal Keep and Captain Jess Moulds had a blinder collecting intercepts for her team but unfortunately once the ball hit the middle third North struggled to get the ball through the effective Western defensive zone. A dominant rebounder, Moulds collected in any missed shots, the only problem was, there were not many, especially with Bellringer shooting 29/33.

The injection of Brigitte Tapene to Goal Attack for North saw moments of superb Netball, as she drove the baseline with speed and flair. The Western defensive duo of Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Erika Maifea (nee Burgess) however, ensured that no goal was in easy reach for Tapene and Goal Shoot Julie Kelman-Poto, forcing them to shoot from long range.

The final goal margin portrays Western were the dominant team, however North, with their multiple come-backs, made the game an exciting and thrilling affair.
ends

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