Netball: It's all about percentages

Tania Dalton leads the shooting stats as the competition gets down to business. Jeff Brass / Getty Images

If Temepara George has her way, the Force will be thinking only of themselves ahead of tonight's crunch semifinal against the Sting in Invercargill.

The sparky Silver Fern midcourter reckons it's times like these that successful teams don't dwell overly long on who are at the other end of the court. They make sure they get their own house in order for a game where there is no get-out-of-jail card.

The formula is simple: beat the Sting and the Force are in the National Bank Cup final for just the second time in nine years, in Hamilton next Friday against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Lose and put the bibs and balls in the cupboard.

When the teams met during round robin play, the Sting won 52-48 but George is confident.

After all, the Force have won their last four games, including a morale-boosting win over the Magic 47-42 a fortnight ago.

"We've played them untold times in the past, and I think where we've had our downfall is we've concentrated too much on the opposition and given them too much respect," George said.

"It's more about us rather than the opposition and we need to concentrate on our strengths."

Beating the Magic "killed some demons" George added, pointing out that there is a fine balance between getting ahead of themselves and keeping feet firmly planted.

The Force made the final in 2003, becoming the fifth of the Sting's six successive finals victims. Only twice have they failed to make the semifinals.

Force coach Yvonne Willering has seen it all before, but she doesn't dwell on what's been and gone. The big lesson her players must heed from their fourth-round loss to the Sting was not handing out lollies in the form of unforced errors.

"It was there for the taking. We made pressure passes at crucial stages when we should have had a bit more patience and that's something we've been working on in the last three or four games."

Obviously to good effect as they arrive at the third of what they hope will be four death-or-glory games in good heart. They had to beat the Magic to make the top four; then saw off the Flames in the minor semifinal 42-39 last week.

"Now we know what we're capable of. Now we know the players can take the pressure. It's whether they can do it on the day," Willering added.

Defenders Lorna Suafoa and Leanna De Bruin will need to be strong against Tania Dalton, whose 96 per cent shooting rate makes her the cup dead-eye. Cut down her shooting chances, reduce the impact of Belinda Colling and Australian international Natalie Avellino's influence round the circle, and they'll be in the game.

Easier said than done against a team loaded with international experience. At the other end, the heat will go on the likes of Catherine Latu, Daneka Wipiiti , Megan Dehn and Bridget Tapene to take their opportunities.

"Whether you like it or not, it's about shooting percentages," Willering said. "If the shots go in they cannot but help the rest of the team."

And Willering, who places no store on history, will take no notice of the fact the Sting have won 12 of their 14 clashes with the Force.

"It's very much about this team and where they're focused," she said.

And the focus tonight is putting a dent in the Sting ring of invincibility in the far south.

NATIONAL BANK CUP

Semifinal, Live on TV One, 7.30 pm tonight