Wanganui set to go on attack for play-offs

SEAGULLING: Wanganui goal attack Rachael Lynch awaits a possible rebound as Hawke's Bay defender Briar Chalmers attempts to block a shot from Sammy Murphy (out of shot). PHOTO/PAREKURA MURAAHI 300915WCSUPRACHAELLYNCH

WANGANUI representative netball girls have rolled the teams targeted for destruction in pool play at the 2015 Lion Foundation National Championships in Wellington and are now focused on the play-offs for 9th to 12th.

The team was ecstatic to finish third in Pool B that featured North Harbour, Dunedin, Hutt Valley and Hawkes Bay at their first national championship in 15 years.

Coach Lisa Murphy said the side knew they had little show against the strong Dunedin team and North Harbour which was loaded with Silver Ferns and Mystics players, but Hutt Valley and Hawke's Bay were a different story.

"We targeted Hutt Valley and Hawkes Bay as teams we could beat in pool play and we did," Murphy said yesterday.

Wanganui dismissed Hutt Valley 50-43 and then on Tuesday put Hawke's Bay behind them with a 56-43 victory.

"The girls just put it all together against Hawke's Bay and worked as a well oiled unit.

"I was so proud of them and they were proud of themselves - it was simply a great team effort on a night when things went right.

"We are now in a pool with Taranaki, Kapi-Mana and Counties-Manukau in a round robin for 9th to 12th. It is just so pleasing to be out of the bottom five in our first national tournament for 15 years. We play for seedings for next season now, although it looks like changes are to be made again to the national championship structure which may affect us - we'll wait and see," Murphy said.

Murphy said she was pleased to have Rachael Lynch back in the side after she spent time in hospital earlier in the competition with an ear infection.

The round robin to decide 9th to 12th began with Counties-Manukau late yesterday and continues with Kapi-Mana today at 1.30pm and finally Taranaki tomorrow at noon.