Netball: Canterbury set pace on way to title victory

Maree Bowden of Canterbury looks to pass during the match against Auckland Waitakere. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury star Maree Bowden was yesterday sporting a black eye and several more bumps and bruises from a torrid provincial final clash against Auckland Waitakere on Saturday night.

But she claims the gold medal around her neck made it all worth it, after her team won their first national title in eight years.

Canterbury edged the defending champions 53-52 in a thrilling finale to the Lion Foundation championships, with young shooter Ellen Halpenny calmly slotting the winning penalty goal after the final whistle.

After leading by five goals midway through the final period, Canterbury appeared to implode over the final five minutes, allowing Auckland Waitakere back into the game with a couple of unforced errors.

With the score level at 52-all and 20 seconds left on the clock and the centre pass with Auckland Waitakere, it looked as if the tournament hosts were going to snatch an unlikely victory. But an offensive penalty on the restart gifted Canterbury the ball, which they clinically worked in to Halpenny in the goal circle.

"We had it under control - well that's what I told Tans [coach Tania Hoffman] anyway," Bowden joked.

"I must admit I had my eyes closed when [Halpenny] was taking the shot."

Canterbury were deserving winners having set the pace throughout the competition. If Auckland Waitakere had won, it would have been through sheer brutality, with the home side extremely aggressive on defence in a bid to upset Canterbury's rhythm.

After impressing through the early rounds of the tournament, Wellington finished a disappointing fourth following Saturday's play-off loss to Southland.

But next year there will be a reshuffle in the provincial pecking order after division two winners Bay of Plenty overwhelmed Western 55-51 in their promotion-relegation match.

The Bay side proved their first division credentials with a strong defensive effort from captain Jodi Tod and new Magic signing Erena Mikaere, along with some composed shooting from 18-year-old Harley Smith.

Tod described her side's elevation as an historic day for netball in the region. "We've been trying for a few years and it's awesome we've finally reached our goal," said Tod.

Waikato, who finished second in division two, also very nearly booked a spot in the top tier, giving Otago a scare in their promotion-relegation play-off. Just a couple of goals separated the two teams for most of the final quarter, but Otago were able to pull away in the final one and a half minutes to record a 51-46 win.

But one team who have lost a lot of ground on the top flight is Netball North. Once one of the powerhouses in the competition, North finished just one place off the foot of the ladder in the second division.

North were even outdone by cross-town rivals Counties Manukau, who for years were considered easybeats.

Many young stars in the Counties team impressed, in particular 18-year-old midcourter Kirsten Hurley, who was named in the NZ under-21 squad.

FINAL PLACINGS

First division

1. Canterbury
2. Auckland Waitakere
3. Southland
4. Wellington
5. Otago
6. Western*

Second division

1. Bay of Plenty*
2. Waikato
3. Counties Manukau
4. Tasman
5. Netball North
6. Eastern

*Bay of Plenty have been promoted to the first division in 2011 after beating Western in the promotion-relegation match