Dylan Cleaver: Home final * farce for Sting

On Friday night New Zealand's first asterisk final will take place in what former Lions hooker Brian Moore would call Stadium Chernobyl.

In what is looking like the biggest bureaucratic balls-up since the New Zealand Rugby Union blew the chance of sub-hosting the 2003 World Cup, the National Bank Cup final has been rendered largely meaningless.

If the Southern Sting win - and who'd bet against them now - the victory must always be qualified by an *. The * must be followed by the statement: "Hosted final despite rules of NBC clearly stating the Magic had earned the right to host the sport's supposed showpiece."

Magic players and coach are putting a brave face on it, like they have any choice. It's harder for Netball New Zealand (NNZ) to keep a lid on their fans though. Already a farmer from the Magic catchment area has been on radio claiming he's withdrawn $2m worth of business from the competition's sponsor.

Others are being urged to do likewise. This could end up being a very expensive decision for all involved - corporates are not normally appreciative of having their brands associated with such negative publicity.

Apportioning blame is not as clear-cut as it first appears.

The farce could've been avoided with just a smidgeon of foresight and here the Magic franchise has to be more culpable than NNZ.

Either way it's a damned shame and the only ones not at fault are the players and coaches from either team and Magic's suddenly disenfranchised fans.

"Our hearts go out to them," Sting wing defence Wendy Telfer said. Not that there would have been a lot left of their hearts after pouring most of them into Friday night's elimination final 47-44 win against nearly-rans the Force.

This match, at North Shore Events Centre, had everything, including the unfathomable umpiring that has blighted the competition. But the abiding memory from the match will be Sting's defensive triumvirate of Anna Galvan, Jenny Ferguson and the tireless Telfer driving the Force's attack to distraction.

By halftime they'd dispensed with Daneka Wipiiti and by fulltime Force's captain and inspiration Temepara George was close to boiling point with Telfer.

"It was so physical in that final quarter and we would have done anything to win. We just had good composure," Telfer said.

"We've had three away from home but we're so excited to be going home and playing in front of our home crowd."*

There goes that asterisk again.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY