By TERRY MADDAFORD
Auckland Diamonds coach Georgina Salter is looking ahead to tonight's fourth round national netball league clash with the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic rather than looking back at her team's three appearances the national competitions so far.
The Diamonds go into the Coca Cola Cup match at the Rotorua
Sportsdrome with a one-from-three record.
That record had them in sixth place and four behind tonight's opponents, who won twice in the opening rounds before the Easter break.
While Salter acknowledges the individual shooting statistics for her players are a little off the pace, she is not overly concerned.
"We are taking our time to settle but overall they have shown me they are very good shooters," said Salter. "Both [Monika Gabriel and Kiri Adams] have come up with 100 per cent in some quarters of our matches so far.
" I prefer to look at our overall statistics than look at individual figures.
"And, you have to remember our losses have been against the Force and the Sting, who have tested us with the very best defences in the competition.
"This weekend is the chance to improve our overall performance.
"I'm not too worried about our position [on the points table] as I see the three games we have played so far as progressing our development.
"It is a big game this weekend but I don't see us doing anything different."
The shooting statistics after three rounds had Irene van Dyk at the top with 90 per cent just ahead of the Force's Teresa Tairi (88 per cent) and Tania Dalton (84).
Gabriel goes into tonight's game at 73 per cent and Adams 68 per cent.
Tomorrow's game in Wellington between the Force, in second place before the break, and defending champions the Southern Sting, will complete the round.
