Netball: Counties focus on southern menace

By JULIE ASH

Counties and Manukau got off to the best possible start in the national championships in Invercargill yesterday, beating Eastern and Western Manawatu - but there is little time to celebrate as the netballers prepare for this afternoon's clash against the highly rated Otago side.

Counties and Manukau made easy work of their first opponents, thrashing Eastern (Gisborne) 62-35. They followed that with a 59-46 win over Western Manawatu in a performance that left coach Jan Lundon far from impressed.

Western Manawatu led by two goals going into the last quarter before the South Auckland side hit their straps.

"We really struggled against Western Manawatu. We just didn't get our act together and made too many basic mistakes," she said.

"Our game against Eastern was okay. It was ugly but it was good to have a win."

The loss of mid-court player Ritua Petero against Western Manawatu, with a suspected broken ankle, did not help Counties and Manukau. The team are already without Silver Fern centre Temepara George, sidelined with a knee injury.

"We are hoping Temepara will be cleared to play on Wednesday," Lundon said.

Counties and Manukau were required to play two games on the first day because they were unable to play their local derby match the week before.

In other matches played yesterday, Otago picked up their first win, beating Netball North 56-48 after losing to Canterbury in the opening round.

"Otago have a good line. They have strength all throughout the court with Janine Brown and Angelina Yates shooting and Adine Harper in mid-court," said Lundon.

Auckland Waitakere's chances of making the top four are now almost over after they suffered their second consecutive loss at the hands of Wellington, 75-45.

Coach Marlene Flavell said her side seemed to run out of steam at halftime.

"We really blew it in the third quarter against Wellington," she said. "In that quarter they scored something like 23 goals to our seven.

"We put up a good first-half fight but then made far too many mistakes."

Auckland Waitakere face Southland today before Tasman tomorrow and Bay of Plenty on Thursday.

There were no real surprises in the first day's play of the week-long tournament, with competition favourites Canterbury, Wellington and Waikato all maintaining their unbeaten runs.

In today's first-division games, Western Manawatu face Eastern, Bay of Plenty play Tasman, Waikato face Wellington and Netball North play Canterbury.