Netball: Force maintain unbeaten run

By JULIE ASH

It was well into the second half before Force fever hit the North Shore Events Centre in the battle of the bridge National Bank Cup netball match today.

As the Force's theme song "Night Fever" blared out, the Auckland Waitakere Diamonds did all they could to throw their opposition out of rhythm.

But in front of 4000 spectators and in their first home game of the season, the Force did not disappoint coming away with a 56-45 win to maintain their place at the top of the table.

After four rounds, the Southern Sting are second with a game in hand after beating the Capital Shakers 53-38, the Bay of Plenty Waikato Magic sit in third place after annihilating the Western Flyers 71-36 and rounding off the top four are the Canterbury Flames who had a 60-29 win over the Counties Manukau Cometz.

The Otago Rebels had the bye this weekend.

Today the Force lead 15-12 at the first quarter despite a nervous start. The Diamonds could have made the most of the Force's unsettled beginning but once again were guilty of throwing too much ball away.

The Force held a narrow 25-21 lead after what was almost a goal- for-goal second quarter. Standout player was Force wing defence Sheryl Clarke, who hunted down every ball.

Not content with her team's performance Diamonds coach Georgina Salter rearranged her line-up after halftime.

Kimberley Horton moved to wing defence in place of Moana Clarke and Phillipa Te Hira replaced Kiri Adams at wing attack. In the most surprising move of all 17-year-old Brigette Tapene made her debut at goalshoot for Angela Maoate -- a tough introduction when your opponent is Silver Fern Linda Vagana.

"I was a bit scared," Tapene said.

"The reason she came on was that Angela had lost confidence in her shooting. Brigette has been shooting 100 percent in practise so I was happy to put her on," Salter said.

But after just one quarter Salter changed back to her original line-up after the Force leapt ahead 42-33.

The Diamonds fought hard in the last quarter but could not claw their way back -- losing out on a bonus point for the second week in a row.

"I thought we had a chance today, we worked really hard to put it all together we just made the same little mistakes," Salter said.

"When are we going to get them right? That is the frustration of it all."

Now her side has played the Force and the Sting, Salter rates the Sting higher.

"If I look at both teams I would rather play the Force, they have more patterns," she said.

Force coach Maria Lynch said the win was a confidence boast for her side heading into next weekend's double header against the Magic and Sting.

"Today wasn't the classiest of games. The Diamonds are a real spoiling team," Lynch said.

"Like they don't go and get the ball and they are asking the umpire to go and get the ball for them.

"They used every tactic they could to slow us down and full credit to our girls for keeping their heads together -- they are experienced enough now not to get into those little mind games."