Netball: Sting top round robin to take on Magic at home

Magic coach Noeline Taurua has just five days to figure out how to restore confidence in her side before they head south for their semifinal clash against the Sting.

In what was the closest finish to the round robin competition in the league's nine-year history - the Sting, Magic and Force ended the contest with 17 points and the Flames and the Diamonds with 16 points.

If more than two teams are tied on points, the placings are decided by the goal average of the pool games - goals-for, divided by goals-against.

Once that was calculated, the Sting came out on top, earning a home semifinal against the second-placed Magic.

Because the Flames beat the Diamonds in the first game of the season, they advanced to the playoffs, where they will meet the Force on Sunday.

The winner of the Magic and Sting game advances straight to the June 30 final, and the loser squares-off against the winner of the Force and the Flames on June 23.

While little separated the Flames and the Sting in yesterday's encounter, the Magic performed below par for the second weekend in a row, losing to the fired-up Force in Tauranga.

The defending champions struggled to get the ball through court, made endless unforced errors, and in the end lost confidence in one another.

The Force, on the other hand, who needed to win to secure a semifinal spot, were slick on defence, patient in their passing, and their shooters, Catherine Latu and Megan Dehn delivered, nailing 47 of their 55 attempts.

"Last night was the longest night I have ever had," Taurua said.

"I just thought, 'holy hell'. We had a lot of ball but we didn't handle confrontation and we lost confidence in ourselves and each other.

"But today is a new day. Now it is about not worrying what happened in the past, it is about refocusing and celebrating we are in the top four."

One problem the Magic will have to sort out quick smart is their shooting circle. Newcomer Tanya Lund started the season well at goal attack but has gone off the boil in recent weeks, which has allowed the Magic's opponents to plant two defenders back on Irene van Dyk, effectively shutting her out of the game.

"We can't afford to have only one shooter on," Taurua said.

"We have to come with different ways to free up Irene [van Dyk] or to get Tanya [Lund] concentrating on her long shots. Naturally she likes long shots. When she tries to pass and get closer, then we start to have problems.

"It is about getting her confidence up."

Taurua feels that could be the key for her whole team and will seek advice from various individuals this week as to how she can help her team achieve it.

"I like to think the more pressurised the situation, the more I enjoy it.

"Even though we went into thinking this was a whole new year, I think unintentionally we are still waiting for what happened last year, where we finished with a 25-goal win in the final. But we have new personnel and we have to start again."

In the other crucial match of the round, a spirited performance from former Silver Fern Julie Seymour helped the Flames to an upset win over the Sting yesterday.

In a match where the lead changed several times, the Flames held their composure and, through the shooting of Jade Topia, managed to pull off their first-ever win over the Sting.

Final round

* Capital Shakers beat Otago Rebels 50-33

* Northern Force beat Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 47-42.

* Auckland Waitakere Diamonds beat Western Flyers 47-30.

* Canterbury Flames beat Southern Sting 51-48

Semifinals

* Friday: Sting v Magic, Invercargill, 7.30pm, live TV One.

* Sunday: Force v Flames, North Shore Events Centre, 1pm, live TV One.