Netball: Canterbury favourites for provisional championships

Canterbury Tactix are proving to be favourites. Photo / Alan Gibson

Canterbury have underlined their status as favourites to take out netball's national provincial championships after coming through the pool-play stages unbeaten.

The defending champions edged past Wellington 48-44 in yesterday's final round of pool play to secure top seeding for today's semifinals in Porirua.

The only blip on Canterbury's record through the pool stages was a 58-all draw against Otago last weekend. But Canterbury's win yesterday ensured they avoided the danger team Otago in the semifinals.

Otago will meet tournament hosts Wellington in today's semifinals after finishing third on the ladder with a big win over Bay of Plenty.

But the Bay, who are in their first season in the first division, still managed to scrape into the top four and will face Canterbury today.

Auckland Waitakere had their first win yesterday, toppling Southland 54-44 to set up a repeat showdown against the Southerners today. Their maiden win was not enough for the Auckland side to avoid finishing at the bottom of the first division, while the result cost Southland their place in the semifinals.

So the two sides will face off again on court today for seeding in the promotion-relegation play-offs.

The loss saw Southland finish on equal points with Bay of Plenty with two wins apiece, with the Bay advancing to the semis as they beat the Southerners earlier in pool-play.

The winner of today's fifth/sixth play-off will meet the second-seeded team from the second division, with the loser to play the winner of the second division.

Western, who are unbeaten , are the favourites to win the second tier competition. They face Waikato in today's final.

The failure of Netball North to secure a top two spot means there is a danger all three Auckland teams - North, Auckland Waitakere and Counties Manukau - could be playing in the second division next season.