Canterbury have been eliminated from the national netball championships by title holders Waikato in Palmerston North today.
Despite missing a quartet of Silver Ferns including sharp shooter Irene Van Dyk and playmaker Laura Langman, Waikato kept their hopes alive by confirming a place in the top six play-offs
with a 44-40 victory.
Waikato bounced back from last night's narrow 54-56 loss to North to improve to a three-win two-loss record in section A.
T hat ratio was enough to knock out Canterbury, who also had a 50 percent record entering today's do-or-die match-up.
Canterbury's campaign was placed in jeopardy by a narrow 39-43 loss to southern rivals Otago last night and they were again shaded in the dying minutes.
Canterbury led by seven at the end of the first quarter and had a four-goal buffer entering the run home only to be overrun by the superior accuracy of Hayley Stockman and Halana Leith.
The Canterbury duo of Jade Topia and Julianna Naoupu put up four more shots than their Waikato counterparts during the course of the contest but Stockman, who recorded 32 from 38 attempts, proved the difference.
Unbeaten North, who play Counties Manukau in their final section match later today and Otago -- who play Eastern -- are already through from section A.
In section B Auckland Waitakere are also assured of a tilt at the title, extending their winning streak to five with a hard fought 53-48 defeat of Southland.
Southland will also progress despite their second loss, and will be joined by either Bay of Plenty or Western.
Bay of Plenty play Wellington in their final pool game while Western face Tasman.
- NZPA
