Netball: North fall short in tussle of the towers

Auckland Waitakere goal keep Anna Scarlett (left) puts pressure on North goal shoot Monica Fuimaono in their match yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The defensive style of Auckland Waitakere's Anna Scarlett and Stephanie Bond is under the spotlight again following a stinging attack by North coach Melissa Walker.

Defending champions North were bundled out of the national championships last night, losing to Auckland Waitakere 50-36.

Auckland Waitakere will square off against Southland and Waikato will meet Canterbury in today's semifinals.

With the final semifinal spot up for grabs, intensity was never going to be lacking in last night's match between Auckland Waitakere and North.

But for North it all fell apart in the second quarter. Auckland Waitakere's twin towers of terror Scarlett and Bond wreaked havoc with their attack, restricting them to just three goals.

However, Walker was not impressed by some of Scarlett and Bond's tactics and even less impressed with the umpires, who she felt let them get away with too much.

"Some of the defence of the so-called Silver Ferns was not on.

"I think there is a lot to be said about how certain Silver Ferns actually perform on court and get away with it, and yet down the other end where you have got players aspiring to be that [Silver Ferns], they can't."

She said her team were "robbed" by bad calls and that made it hard to play decent netball.

It is not the first time Scarlett and Bond's defence has raised eyebrows. In this year's National Bank Cup they received heavy criticism when their Diamonds team played the Magic.

The issue most shooters have with Scarlett, in particular, is that when she lands, she tends to hit her opponents.

Even Irene van Dyk, who has a thigh heavily bandaged following her clash with Scarlett, admits her Silver Fern teammate is probably the worst culprit in what is effectively late tackling.

However, if Scarlett is getting away with it, why would she stop?

Umpiring aside, North were outplayed by a side who had better execution on attack and more success under the goal. Auckland Waitakere landed 50 of their 69 shots compared to North's 36 from 54.

Auckland Waitakere coach Paula Bailey said the match was possibly the first in which her team had maintained their intensity for the whole 60 minutes.

"I think we learnt today about getting a lead and keeping it. Even if you have a big lead you have to keep attacking."

She said that would be the plan when they meet Southland, who beat them by five goals three days ago.

In other key matches last night Southland beat Otago 58-41 and Waikato beat Canterbury 45-44.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Trusts Stadium, Waitakere.

Semifinals:

Southland v Auckland Waitakere, 5.30pm.
Waikato v Canterbury, 7.15pm.