Netball: Shooting stats let Bay down again

Charissa Barham

It was another case of those finishing blues for Hawke's Bay at the national netball championships in Wellington yesterday.

"We should have been good enough for a draw but our shooting let us down again," Hastings Pak 'N Save Hawke's Bay coach Charissa Barham lamented after a 51-42 loss to Manawatu.

Manawatu's shooters finished with an 80 per cent success rate while the Bay shooters succeeded with 66 per cent of their attempts.

"It was frustrating. We averaged nine gains a quarter and all our through the court stuff was fine ... we only lost it on the shooting stats," Barham said.

Lizzie Sandon, a late replacement in the side, succeeded with 73 per cent of her attempts. Former Silver Fern Katarina Cooper sunk 63 per cent of her attempts and 16-year-old Emma Vennell 43 per cent of her's.

"Emma has realised how big the jump is from under-17 to senior nationals but this experience will be beneficial to her in the long term," Barham said.

Rhiarna Ferris played the entire game at wing defence and was full of authority.

Goal keep Olivia Macaulay and goal defence Briar Chalmers had huge ticks beside their names at the final whistle, while midcourters Becky Kupa and Abby Breakwell were slick and accurate in all aspects of play.

Hawke's Bay play Tokoroa today and Thames Valley tomorrow. Barham was confident of victories in both matches and if her troops are successful they will finish 14th overall.