Netball crunch time

By JANE MARSHALL - The Press | Friday, 04 July 2008

It is a script that ANZ Championship organisers could not have written better if they had tried.

Heading into the last weekend of round-robin play, there are still five teams pushing for semi-final spots.

Sure, championship officials would have taken the white-out to a few lines the variations in interpretations of laws by umpires, grumblings over the draw and the leaky roof in Perth but the new league has lived up to expectations.

WAIKATO-BOP MAGIC

Have home advantage that will no doubt be useful for a Magic side which has lost some of its spark in June, suffering two losses.

Coach Noeline Taurua has called on her team to worry about the win first and leave the number crunching to others.

Current position: 1st albeit by goal percentage (18pts).

Strengths: they have them across the court with Silver Ferns and will be looking at their internationals to fire at the business end of the season.

Weaknesses: The Magic have been exposed on attack in recent weeks with Ferns goal attack, Maria Tutaia, finding herself under the pump against the Steel and the Vixens.

The spoilers: only four goals separated the Tactix and the Magic when they met in round eight, back in May. It was possibly the last time the Canterbury franchise had a top performance and the Magic will be wary their opponents will have their tails up for their last outing.

Prediction: victory over the Tactix but possibly not enough to seal its top spot, leaving it with a trip across the ditch for the first major semi-final. A loss could see it fall to third place and in sudden-death semi-final territory, should the Thunderbirds win big over the Central Pulse.

NSW SWIFTS

Certainly the form team heading into the play-offs and could claim top position with a big win over the West Coast Fever on Monday night.

Current position: 2nd (18pts).

Strengths: the shooting circle is by far the best in the league while the defensive line has made big gains over the last few rounds.

Weaknesses: half-way through the competition it would have been the mid-court but there have been signs of some stability there, led by Kimberlee Green.

The spoilers: the West Coast Fever will be riding high after its first home victory (against the Tactix last week) and should have the backing of a full house against the competition movers and shakers.

Prediction: a win to the Swifts is expected and on recent form, could do enough to grab the top qualifying position on goal ratio.

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

Looks to have finally solved its attacking end with both Kate Beveridge (GS) and Emily Beaton (WA) making an impact.

Current position: 3rd (16pts).

Strengths: has been its defence throughout the season while goal attack, Natalie Medhurst, has been the stand-out up front.

Weaknesses: inconsistency brilliant one week and ordinary the next. If it can maintain its flow on attack then the Thunderbirds could be the dark horse in the top four.

The spoilers: possibly the easiest assignment out of the play-off contenders just don't tell the Central Pulse that. The Wellington-based franchise has pushed plenty of teams to the brink this season and will be out for a memorable final fling.

Prediction: The Thunderbirds will do enough for the two points and claim home advantage for the sudden death semi-final. Could be bumped up to second if the Magic lose.

MELBOURNE VIXENS

A knee injury to mid-courter, Natasha Chokljat, has come at the wrong time of the season for the Vixens who will racing the clock to have their experienced mid-courter back in action.

Current position: 4th.

Strengths: the defensive end of Bianca Chatfield, Julie Prendergast and Renae Hallinan was at its best against the Magic last month and has been a strength of the side this season.

Weaknesses: some vulnerability in the mid-court was shown by the sudden loss of Chokljat last week, affecting the flow on attack and forcing Sharelle McMahon into overdrive.

The spoilers: another of the season late bloomers, the Northern Mystics, have the opportunity to have an impact on the play-off positions and with it become the first Kiwi team to win in Australia.

Prediction: upset is on the cards and defeat would leave the Vixens sweating on other results.

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS

Fell out of serious contention with its loss to the Thunderbirds last week and will need the Vixens to lose on Sunday to have any chance of reaching the final four.

Current position: 5th two points adrift of the Vixens.

Strengths: defensively the Firebirds are possibly under-rated with Peta Stephens and Clare McMeniman tough to penetrate while Laura Geitz adds more steel.

Weaknesses: the New Zealand winter may have an impact on its star player, Romelda Aiken. It was an unhappy teenager who arrived on these shores 12 months ago and failed to fire in the cooler climes.

The spoilers: better late than never the Steel has shown its potential, albeit to late in the season having picked off the Vixens and the Magic. In front of a full house in Dunedin, may well finish their season off with another Aussie scalp.

Prediction: The Firebirds will find the going too tough (or too cold) in New Zealand and may have to settle for fifth place.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4606736a10895.html