NETBALL: Goal post rules Tod out of action

SHANE HURNDELL
Eastern netball captain Jodi Tod was bruised but happy this morning as she reflected on her team's two wins at the national championships in Dunedin yesterday.
Tod missed Eastern's 55-33 win against Counties-Manukau in the morning but formed a formidable defensive trio with Amanda Palmer and Raewyn Wilson in last night's 44-38 win against Wellington.
A collision with a goal post during Tuesday's win against Bay of Plenty left Tod with a huge bruise on her leg which prevented her from playing yesterday morning. It gave her the early appointment with team physio Gaye Monteith this morning.
"It hurts when I warm up and means I have to take a little longer with my pre-match routines but once I've warmed up, I'm right," Tod said.
She was full of praise for the "massive team effort" against Wellington and said if this can be reproduced against hosts Otago tonight her troops will be well placed to finish fifth or sixth and thus improve on last year's seventh placing.
Eastern were never threatened in their win against Counties-Manukau. Against Wellington, Eastern recovered from a 15-8 deficit in the first quarter to lead 21-20 at halftime.
Eastern's go to player in the attacking circle, experienced shooter Julie Kelman-Poto, didn't perform to her full potential against Counties-Manukau but redeemed herself against Wellington with 40 successes from 50 attempts at goal.
Defending champions Waikato continued their march in the top six bracket, dismissing Western 71-29 and Canterbury 59-40, but paying a heavy price with an injury to Silver Fern defender Casey Williams.
Williams landed awkwardly while competing for the ball and went down clutching her right ankle early in the second quarter against Canterbury.
Waikato coach Nicole Dryden did not think the injury was as bad as it first appeared, but said the side would monitor it overnight and make a decision on Williams' fitness this morning.
Canterbury's Vilimaina Davu also left the court with an injured ankle in the fourth quarter of the same match. Aside from the injury, Dryden said Waikato were on track and gaining confidence with every match.
"I think we are looking good ... and as each game has gone and the group has had more time together the combinations have settled."
Waikato's approach has been to field their best combination, establish a big lead and then rest key players in the final quarter.
The other unbeaten side, North, convincingly beat Auckland 60-44 yesterday. Elsewhere, Auckland beat Canterbury 56-40.