Netball previews

 

Roar Rookie

By Samantha Broun, 31 May 2008 Samantha Broun is a Roar Rookie

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Preview of round nine of the ANZ netball championship this weekend (all times AEST).

SATURDAY

SOUTHERN STEEL v CENTRAL PULSE at Stadium Southland, Invercargill at 12.30pm.

Last meeting: Steel 52-50 (Rd 2, 2008).

TAB Sportsbet: Steel $1.15, Pulse $5.

The two lowest ranked Kiwi teams clash, with pride rather than finals the major prize on offer. The underachieving Steel have lost their only two home games, but will be freshened by their bye. The improving Pulse have lost by close margins in their last two games and extra-time in their earlier encounter against the Steel and could finally notch that elusive first win, if England Test star Sonia Mkoloma can shackle Steel’s main shooter Daneka Wipiiti.

Tip: Steel by four.

SUNDAY

MELBOURNE VIXENS v WEST COAST FEVER at State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne at 1.30pm.

Last meeting: N/A

TAB Sportsbet: Vixens $1.02, Fever $11.

The battling Fever will attack the game with fresh impetus following their bye, but face a formidable assignment in trying to snap their four-game losing streak, during which they have conceded over 60 goals in each defeat. The Vixens will be fired up by their loss to the Firebirds and in no mood to welcome a Fever side featuring former Phoenix favourite Ingrid Dick. Prolific Fever shooter Caitlin Bassett has had to shoulder an excessive amount of the scoring workload and the scoreboard could look horrid for the visitors, unless she gets some much needed support against the Test duo of Bianca Chatfield and Julie Prendergast.

Tip: Vixens by 13.

MONDAY

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS v ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS at Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane, 7pm.

Last meeting: N/A

TAB Sportsbet: Firebirds $1.43, Thunderbirds $2.65.

The Firebirds are running red-hot with five-straight victories, a 100 per cent record at home and a win against the Thunderbirds could send them to the top of the table. Two of the competition’s best shooters, Queensland’s Romelda Aiken (282 goals at 91 per cent) and Adelaide’s Natalie Medhurst (165 goals at 92 per cent), will be on display, but defence will win either team the match.

If anyone can stop the Aiken juggernaut – she’s averaging 40 goals a game – it will be the Thunderbirds defensive unit of Geva Mentor and Mo’onia Gerrard and after suffering successive losses, to the Vixens and the Swifts, expect a fired up Adelaide as they strive to stay in touch with the top four.

Tip: Firebirds by six.

CANTERBURY TACTIX v NORTHERN MYSTICS at the Trusts Stadium, Auckland, 5pm.

Last meeting: Tactix 48-44, round one 2008.

TAB Sportsbet: Tactix $1.65, Mystics $2.15.

Fresh from last week’s nail-biting win over the Pulse, Mystics will be out to avenge their four-goal first round loss to Tactix, as they again clash in Auckland due to venue unavailability in Christchurch.

The seventh-placed Mystics must win this week if they are to maintain any finals hopes, while Tactix are just two points outside the top four.

Tactix matched it with the competition-leading Magic last week and the strong Mystics defensive trio of Sheryl Scanlan, Vilimaina Davu and Leana de Bruin will need to curtail the effectiveness of England Test representative Rachel Dunn, who scored 35 goals at 85 per cent last week.

Tip: Tactix by two.

Bye: NSW Swifts, Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic

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