Netball: Force coach looks on the bright side

By RICHARD BOOCK

Maria Lynch believes her table-topping Force netballers could not have received a more timely wake-up call in terms of their national league prospects.

On Sunday the coach of the North Shore-based Force watched her side slump to their first loss of the Coca Cola Cup, but considers the result a valuable reality check for her players.

Joint-leaders with the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic after six rounds, the R'toto Force face one of the more difficult double-headers this weekend when they square off against fellow title contenders the Canterbury Flames on Friday night and the Capital Shakers on Sunday.

Lynch said her side were virtually unbeatable on their day, but had made too many errors against the Sting in Invercargill last weekend to preserve their unbeaten record.

"The Shakers didn't do us any favours by beating the Sting the week before," Lynch said. "We copped the backlash for that in a way, but I still think it's done us more good than bad.

"I've always felt that it's more of a help than a hindrance to lose a game during round-robin play. It reminds the players of the need to concentrate and to adjust, and it helps to generate the passion and hunger you need to win a title."

All of the five sides with genuine semifinal aspirations have difficult late-season assignments, but Lynch said her players were anxious to win both games this weekend and retain control of their own destiny.

While that might sound a tall order, she said anything less than the maximum eight available points would leave the Force biting their fingernails during the following weekend's final act of the round-robin competition.

"It looks like it's going to go right down to the wire, and we certainly don't want to be depending on other results during the final round.

"The Flames play a torrid, physical defensive game and make life difficult for all opponents, and of course the Shakers have the additional problem of Irene van Dyk - by far the best shoot in the competition."

Although the Force and the Magic are three points clear of the chasing Shakers, Sting and Flames, both are still to have a bye and are not guaranteed of making the playoffs, let alone scoring a home semifinal.

The Magic have their bye this weekend before ending the round-robin with games against the Sting (in Invercargill) and the Shakers, while the Force will have their bye in Saturday week's final round.