Netball: Wipiiti a dominant force in victory

Jo Morrison of the Auckland Diamonds (right) keeps the ball away from Erika Burgess of the Flyers on Saturday night. Picture / Fotopress

Yvonne Willering's Force hammered another nail into the Sting's coffin in Invercargill yesterday, handing the defending champions their third consecutive loss.

Through the sharp shooting of Daneka Wipiiti, the Force took it to the Sting in the middle part of the game which, despite a spirited comeback from the Sting in the final quarter, was enough to clinch the match 57-53.

With just one round remaining before the top four playoffs, the Magic remain at the top of the table with 16 points.

The Force and the Diamonds have 13 points. The Flames and the Sting, who have 12 and 11 points respectively, square off on Friday to decide the other semifinalist.

Of the weekend's round it was the match in Invercargill yesterday that was of most interest.

The Sting went into the game on the back of two consecutive losses - to the Diamonds and the Magic - while after an erratic start to the season the Force campaign seem to have gained momentum after wins over the Shakers and Diamonds.

With so much riding on the match, the game was always going to be fast and furious and it was the Sting that emerged from the first quarter one goal ahead.

Adine Wilson, in her first game of the season after a knee injury, opened up the Sting's attack almost immediately.

However, once again the Sting's dynamic duo of Donna Loffhagen and Tania Dalton appeared a notch or two below their best. Dalton is struggling with the knee she had operated on last year.

However, of more concern to the Sting, was their inability to contain Wipiiti.

Sting coach Robyn Broughton even brought the taller figure of Katie Fay on in the third quarter to try to shut down the Force's shooting machine - with little effect.

For the third week in a row Wipiiti has been instrumental in her side's success and must now come into calculations for the Silver Ferns test against Australia next month.

The Force battled out to a 30-26 lead at halftime, which they extended to 43-36 at threequarter time.

The Sting came back in the final quarter, but the Force did what they did last week against the Diamonds and managed to hold on.

Willering said her side's fall-off is not a lack of fitness, they just need to "keep the performance going right through to the end".

The Force should beat the Flyers in their final round robin game on Sunday, which should secure them a home semifinal.

"Even now I don't believe you have seen the Force at their best," Willering said.

"The players know that and it is about them taking that responsibility to take another step up. Hopefully we are on an upward climb."

At Waitakere Stadium on Saturday night the Diamonds had no trouble dismissing the Flyers.

In their fourth consecutive home game of the season, Diamonds coach Sue Hawkins was able to give a number of her squad court time.

The Diamonds let at every quarter 15-11, 28-19 and 42-31, before taking the match 51-39.

The Diamonds face the Rebels in Dunedin on Sunday.

Round six

Rebels 49 Shakers 39

Magic 54 Flames 37

Diamonds 51 Flyers 39

Force 57 Sting 53