Netball: Pressure on Kiwi sides to improve results in transtasman weekend

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic player Jo Harten chases the ball against the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Photo / Ben Fraser

As another weekend of all-transtasman clashes looms in the ANZ Championship, so too does the prospect of further humiliation for the New Zealand sides.

The pressure is on to redress an embarrassing run of results in round eight that saw Australian sides win all five transtasman clashes, leading to the inevitable questions over the competitiveness of the New Zealand teams. Last weekend's results created further anomalies between the respective conference ladders, with the Mystics the only Kiwi side with a positive win-loss record.

But the Mystics' record took a hit last weekend with a 16-goal loss to the NSW Swifts in Sydney and they risk further damage when they take on the Queensland Firebirds in Auckland tomorrow. The Mystics have never beaten the Queensland side in eight meetings, with the Firebirds' average winning margin 12 goals.

The Firebirds' strength lies in their bookends, with star defender and inspirational skipper Laura Geitz and Jamaican import Romelda Aiken presenting a strong challenge for the Mystics at either end of the court.

A question mark remains over the make-up of the Mystics shooting end tomorrow, with key shooter Cathrine Latu in doubt after yet another setback in round eight. Latu suffered a back spasm during the warm-up in last weekend's match and did not take the court. The latest setback follows a slow recovery from a calf complaint last season, emergency surgery to remove her appendix in the off-season and an ankle injury in round six. The Mystics are hopeful Latu's back will settle in time for tomorrow's match.

But while the Mystics have hit a bumpy patch, the Pulse - New Zealand's other "premier side" - have been consistently poor and face the very real possibility of missing out on the play-offs once more, despite only needing to finish in the top three of the New Zealand conference to make the finals. The Pulse need to snap an eight-game drought against Australian sides stretching back to 2013 against NSW Swifts in Wellington today to get their play-off hopes back on track. With the Pulse boasting five current Silver Ferns in their line-up they certainly have the experience to match it with the star-studded Swifts, but for all their talent, the Wellington side have struggled to put together a cohesive gameplan this season.

Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu said she would like to see the Kiwi sides producing better results, but is not panicking over the state of the New Zealand conference.

"Overall it is disappointing when you have a weekend of transtasman matches and we don't win any games," said Taumaunu.

"But in general I'm pretty pleased with the way the national players have been performing, and I'm particularly happy with the depth we've got in a couple of positions."

Taumaunu singled out the goal defence position as being particularly strong, with Leana de Bruin and Katrina Grant in impressive form, while Kayla Cullen is improving steadily . The national coach said she is also happy with her midcourt options as she looks ahead to the June trials for the World Cup team.