Just when you thought it was safe to sharpen your quill and pen a Sting obituary, the southern ones put forward a pretty compelling case for National Bank Cup favouritism yet again.
The Sting booked their place in the semifinals with a must-win 50-41 victory over the Canterbury Flames on
Friday night and in the process convinced Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken they will be the team to beat in the post-season.
Aitken, who on Tuesday names a 12-strong Silver Ferns squad to take on Australia in the Fisher and Paykel series, stopped short of calling them favourites but was very impressed with their resilience after a season of injury woes.
"The Sting's history will really hold them in very good stead now," she said. "They're just hitting their straps now. I'd never look past them at this point in time but it is going to be very interesting."
The world championship-winning coach believes the fact that six teams went into the final round of the NBC with a chance of qualifying was another positive sign for the sport.
The Sting's win pushed them temporarily to second on the table, though they are likely to be overtaken by both the Force and the Diamonds, who meet the Flyers and Rebels respectively today. The Magic cannot be overtaken in first after beating wooden-spooners the Shakers on Friday.
Aitken said the squad would be picked on a combination of NBC form and performances against England in March.
Though injuries have had her wincing in her seat too often for her liking, the form of the second-tier shooters has given her reassurance.
"It's been the big step-up area really," Aitken said.
"The New Zealand A shooters coming through, the likes of Katie Ritchie and Anna Senio, who've really stepped up.
"It's really good for our game that we're looking at shooters commonly posting that 85 per cent and above.
"Irene's set the benchmark and now other players are rising to it."
Playing today: Force vs Flyers, North Shore; Rebels vs Diamonds, Dunedin.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
