Netball Weekly Roundup - 03 July 2009

3rd July 2009 - IFNA

The line up for the 2009 ANZ Championship Finals Series will not be confirmed until after the last game of the last round of regular competition, which takes place this weekend, after a thrilling “Rivalry Round” that had it all.  A classic fightback, an historic victory, a stunning upset, a steely southern win and a class act to clinch the Trophy for Australia kept fans on their toes right to the final whistle of three enthralling days of play.

For New Zealand’s Central Pulse, inspired by a superb performance by Cushla Lichtwark, the round brought them their first win in 24 games – a thrilling 53-52 victory over last season’s champions, the NSW Swifts.  Meanwhile, another Kiwi team, the Colourplus Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic registered the first New Zealand victory on Australian soil, overcoming the spirited challenge of West Coast Fever 49-38.  In doing so, the Magic kept alive their chances of winning the minor Championship and securing a home semi-final.   Third placed Adelaide Thunderbirds were lacklustre in their 49-58 loss to the Southern Steel in Dunedin, a game which moves the Steel into fourth place in the table, level with the Queensland Firebirds, who came from 43-47 behind at three quarter time to defeat the LG Mystics 59-57, while in the final match of the round, the Melbourne Vixens cemented their place in the play offs with a 28 goal defeat of the Mercury Energy Tactix, 63-35.  This goal difference also helped Australia to take the Rivalry Round trophy, which was presented to Vixens and Australia captain Sharelle McMahon at the end of the Vixens / Tactix match.

If the Ascot Park Southern Steel defeat the New South Wales Swifts in the final round of matches this weekend, the Queensland Firebirds will have to significantly better their goal difference in defeating the West Coast Fever in order to leapfrog the Kiwi side into the top four and the play offs.  Calculators could also be needed to decide the order of the top two, with Magic aiming to defeat the Thunderbirds and take the top spot, while the Vixens will want to demonstrate their championship credentials with a convincing win over the Pulse.

Sri Lanka’s netballers were in dominant mood as they outclassed Singapore 77-48 in the final of the Seventh Asian Netball Championship to take their fourth title in eight years.   Host nation Malaysia took third place, with a 61-41 victory over Thailand, with Hong Kong ending the competition in fifth place. 

Diana Gittins scored a Caribbean first this week, with the announcement that she is the first player from Carriacou to be named in sister island Grenada’s national U23 netball team.  Gittins, a recent school graduate, is joining the side as they travel to Nevis on a one week tour later this month.

IFNA delegate Joan Smit has endorsed the new National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where Tanzania will host an international tournament from 28 September – 3 October.  The stadium, which seats up to 60,000 people, will provide playing facilities for the competition which already has entries from countries across Africa and Europe, including Botswana, South Africa, Malawi and Ireland.

With an eye to future Silver Ferns’ successes, Netball New Zealand has been encouraged by entries received for a new competition, the national 17 and Under championships, which will be held in Wellington from 14-17 July.  26 teams from across the country have already entered the championships, which is an extension of the national  U19 and U21 competition which will be held the preceding week.
 

http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=310