By JULIE ASH
Options are something Netball North will not be short of when they line up in the week-long national provincial championship tournament which starts in Palmerston North next Monday.
As expected, the powerful North Harbour side swept aside all before them in the preliminary games at the weekend to finish
top of pool B.
Joining them in the top six playoffs are Waikato, who were equally as dominant in pool A, Wellington, Otago, Auckland Waitakere and Canterbury.
After an 80-34 win over Counties Manukau in their opening preliminary match, Netball North showed no mercy for their opponents trouncing Western 74-36 and Otago 51-40 at Papatoetoe.
Against Otago yesterday coach Yvonne Willering used all but two of her players.
Three different shooting combinations took the court and all fronted up well against Otago's towering defenders Anna Scarlett and Stephanie Bond.
"I needed to see them in a tough encounter, obviously we don't want to go into the week-long competition with a main lineup as such," Willering said.
After a strong start, Netball North let Otago back into the game just before the first-quarter break, allowing them to rack up six unanswered goals.
Ahead by just 14-11 at the first break, Netball North ran out to a 30-18 halftime lead which was always going to be difficult for the young Otago side to peg back.
Massey High school student Catherine Latu was introduced into Netball North's shooting mix at halftime.
Standing an impressive 1.95m (6ft 4) tall, Latu barely batted an eyelid lining up against the equally lofty Scarlett.
Netball North led 42-29 at three- quarter time and managed to sustain their lead throughout what was a particularly scrappy final quarter.
Netball North, who look set for an almighty showdown with Waikato next week, would have been satisfied with their performance. Apart from a few speed wobbles and unforced errors, they looked sharp.
For Otago coach Nicola Jones, the hard work now starts. In a little over a week's time her side will line up against Netball North again with the hope of rectifying the 11-goal difference.
In other matches yesterday, Auckland Waitakere beat Canterbury 58-45 in Tauranga to finish top of pool C and Wellington came surprisingly close to beating Waikato, losing 45-41.
Southland, Tasman, Western, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty and Eastern will play off in Palmerston North for seedings for next year's competition.
By JULIE ASH
Options are something Netball North will not be short of when they line up in the week-long national provincial championship tournament which starts in Palmerston North next Monday.
As expected, the powerful North Harbour side swept aside all before them in the preliminary games at the weekend to finish
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