Waikato coach Barbara Clarke let out a huge sigh of relief last night as her side scrapped into the semifinals of the national netball championships in Palmerston North.
Needing to beat Southland to secure a spot in the top four, the defending champions secured two vital turnovers in
the last few minutes which gave them a 41-37 win.
"It was another close game but it was one that we never looked like losing," Clarke said.
"We would get three goal leads and four goal leads then we'd let them right back into the game. We are a team that is getting a lead then not nailing it. We go and make basic errors.
"But anyhow we have made the top four and that was the next goal so I guess we can't complain about that."
Qualifying fourth, Waikato - who have been most affected by the unavailability of the Silver Ferns losing Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams, Laura Langman and Joline Henry - will play the winner of last night's match between North and Auckland Waitakere in one semifinal.
The loser of the North and Auckland Waitakere match will play Otago in the other semi. The winners advance to tomorrow afternoon's final.
Greater Auckland Tasman Trophy coach Yvonne Willering, who is in Palmerston North, is predicting an Auckland Waitakere/North final.
The last time Auckland won the national title was in 1995. They came close to ending the drought last year but couldn't hold off a determined Waikato who won the title 40-38.
Willering said the week-long national tournament is tough on both players and coaches. The key, she said, is using players wisely.
"It is about playing smart netball. There is no way that teams can rely on one main lineup going through this week."
With the Silver Ferns sitting out the nationals, the standard of the championship was always going to be slightly lower. In the second grade there is some good netball being played," Willering said.
* Players in the Australian squad have their final chance to impress national coach Norma Plummer this weekend in Canberra before the team to contest the world championships in Auckland is revealed on Monday.
