Netball: Win takes Force one step closer

By JULIE ASH

North Harbour Force are a step closer to securing a semifinal spot in netball's national league after a thrilling 53-51 win over the Auckland Diamonds yesterday.

In a heartstopping last quarter the lead changed several times before the Force scrambled away with a two-goal win in the dying minutes.

"We made it hard for ourselves," said Force coach Yvonne Willering.

"But the Diamonds were always going to be tough opposition. They always are.

"People talk about the battle of the bridge and while I don't like that term ... for some reason we always have a tough game against them."

The Southern Sting remain at the top of the table in the National Bank Cup after their 57-34 win over the Otago Rebels.

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic are second after suffering their first defeat of the competition to the Canterbury Flames.

The Flames' 50-44 win over the Magic sees them equal on points with the Magic but third on the table due to a points differential.

North Harbour retain fourth position and hold a handy three-point lead over the fifth-placed Diamonds.

The Capital Shakers' 53-43 win over the Western Flyers elevated them to sixth ahead of the Rebels and Shakers.

But it was yesterday's battle of the bridge which had the most riding on it, with the winner almost certain to secure the final semifinal spot.

Both sides settled into their work early and the Diamonds held only a narrow lead in the first two quarters, 16-13 and 29-28.

Through the work of goal defence Kathryn Harby-Williams, centre Victoria Edward and wing attack Anna Rowberry, the Diamonds seemed to have better flow through the court than the Force, whose players were often caught frantically looking for someone to pass to.

"Today we were in a situation where our shooters were shooting them and we didn't give them enough ball," Willering said.

"We became very hesitant in the midcourt and that is an area we now need to address."

Diamonds goal keep Lorna Suafoa also had one of her better games, snaring plenty of ball off the Force attack, who were often guilty of some wayward passes.

However, through some mighty defence of their own, the Force fought back to lead by one going into the last quarter.

With hardly three minutes to play and the score tied at 50-all a controversial Temepara Clark intercept secured the Force possession.

Clark nabbed the ball after flying across the Diamonds' shooting circle, catapulting herself out of court then crashing to the floor.

While some may argue that she stepped offside in the process, the umpires ruled in her favour and the Force went on to land the shot and another off their centre pass to give themselves a two-goal lead.

The Diamonds closed the gap to one and the match could have finished a tie but a missed attempt at goal by the Diamonds was thrust through the net by Daneka Wipiiti at the other end.

Although both teams' shooters have struggled with consistency, both rose to the occasion.

The Diamonds' Shelley Norris and Bridgette Tapene landed 51 from 61 attempts and the Force's Wipiiti and Teresa Tairi secured 53 from 60.

"In all our other games we haven't come anywhere close to our potential and that was coming close," said the Diamonds' coach, Joan Hodson.

"We showed lots of patience, lots of composure. I was just really disappointed with the last five minutes and not so much our girls.

"Coaches stop short when it comes to talking about umpiring and referring. I'd like to do that but I think we had some crucial calls against us."

Willering said she, too, found some calls puzzling but didn't believe the umpires influenced the outcome of the game. "I think if they [the Diamonds] are questioning some calls then we would do the same."