Netball: Set for the big showdown

By JULIE ASH

The Force and the Magic go head to head at the North Shore Events Centre tomorrow afternoon in the second of netball's semifinals.

The Magic had all the right moves last time the two met, winning 59-53 but, say opposing midcourt players Jenny-May Coffin and Temepara Clark, the slate has been cleaned and, with a place in the final at stake, the scene is set for an almighty showdown.

JENNY-MAY COFFIN

Composure is what the Magic mid-court player believes won her side the match the last time they played the Force. So Coffin is hoping for that same level of calmness tomorrow.

The Magic go into the match as favourites, having beaten the Force by six goals in round six. However, Coffin says that match is now firmly in the past.

"In semifinals, teams are always hungrier, so it is going to be a lot different from the last round."

The Force are coming off an easy win against the Capital Shakers, while the Magic are probably still a little battered and bruised after their hard-fought victory over the Otago Rebels.

"This week we have looked at our own game," Coffin said. "We have analysed our last match against the Rebels and there are a few things we need to improve, such as bringing the ball through the court and finishing off.

"Often our defence got some great ball, but we weren't able to finish off."

While she acknowledges the Force have strength up and down the court, Coffin believes their biggest asset is their defence.

"They have Linda Vagana and Sheryl Clarke, and then Temepara Clark is also a real strength on defence. They play a real zone defence, which is the style of Yvonne Willering.

"Last time we played them, I think we won because we had a bit more composure than they did."

One of the key match-ups will be between Coffin and Force centre Temepara Clark.

"She is a tough little cookie, but I can't afford to think about her game too much," Coffin said. "I have to concentrate on my own job and our team's game plan."

The Magic's best placing in the competition was third in 2001. However, with the inclusion of Silver Ferns Irene van Dyk and Leana du Plooy, who switched to the side from the Capital Shakers, this could be the year the Magic make their mark.

"A lot of teams hit their straps at the beginning of the competition, but we have managed to get better as time has gone on,"Coffin said.

"We have an awesome team. We are taking one step at a time, and this weekend we just want to get through to that final."

TEMEPARA CLARK

The Force centre says the Magic are a team she has always rated.

"I always expected them to be in the top four. They have got strength everywhere."

With the round-six loss to the Magic still fresh in their minds, Clark says the Force have plenty of motivation.

"We played as individuals. We didn't play our own game. We threw the ball to them and we just didn't do the basics well. "We learned a lot from that game. But I think we are two teams who are quite similar. We have both got tall, strong shooters in Irene van Dyk and Daneka Wipiiti, and we have both got strong defence and speedy midcourt players."

While there are a number of key match-ups throughout the court, one of the most interesting will be between incumbent Silver Fern Clark and Coffin, who was dropped from the national side in favour of her opponent.

"Jenny-May is a great player, she has so much skill and a good brain," Clark said. "I don't feel any pressure at all coming up against her. Being a Silver Fern is not part of it. It is just another game and one which we can hopefully win."

Clark said a key element of the Force's game plan would be shutting down van Dyk.

"Irene is definitely one of the best shooters around, so we just have to try to stop her getting the ball."

While the home-town advantage is a plus, Clark says it is up to the players to do their jobs on court.

"It is great that we have home support. It is a little bit of an advantage, but at the end of the day it is up to us, the ones out there on the court, to do the job."

Like the Magic, the Force have never been able to land a spot in the final. Tomorrow afternoon that will change for one of the sides.

"I don't think we have peaked yet," Clark said. "It is a real consistency thing. Everyone has had great games. It is just that they have all been on different days. What we need now is for everyone to have a great game on Sunday."

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