- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Preview of round 12 of the ANZ Netball Championship (all times AEST).
SATURDAY
WEST COAST FEVER v MELBOURNE VIXENS at Challenge Stadium, Perth at 2.30pm.
Last met: Round nine, Vixens 57-44.
With only three rounds remaining until finals, the Vixens are peaking at the right time of the season.
Last week’s seven-goal upset win over competition leaders the Magic will give them plenty of confidence heading into this clash against the ninth-placed Fever.
Currently tied in second place on the championship standings with Adelaide and NSW, this week poses a great opportunity for the Vixens to boost their goal percentage, which could end up determining a finals berth.
Fever are out of finals contention but expect their standout player, shooter Caitlin Basset to shine.
TAB Sportsbet: $1.05 Vixens, $8 Fever.
Tip: Vixens by 15.
CENTRAL PULSE v WAIKATO BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC at TSB Bank Arena, Wellington at 12.30pm.
Last met: Round five, Magic 54-37
Ladder-leaders Magic are coming off just their second loss of the season following a seven-goal loss to the Vixens in Melbourne last week.
Expect the competition heavyweights to bounce back in style and put in an almighty effort, especially in the final quarter, after a scrappy last period against the Vixens lost them the game.
At the other end of the ladder, the winless Pulse came oh-so-close last week to a win, going down by one goal in extra time to the Tactix.
Expect the Pulse to give a much better performance than their 17-goal annihilation by the Magic in round five.
TAB Sportsbet: $1.01 Magic, $13 Pulse.
Tip: Magic by 13.
SUNDAY
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS v CANTERBURY TACTIX at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at 1.30pm.
Last met: N/A
The Firebirds’ season is on the line and they’ll be desperate to break their three-match losing streak against the Tactix this week.
Last week’s one-goal loss to the Swifts has seen the Queenslanders tossed out of the competition’s top four – and with a tough run against the Thunderbirds and Steel in the coming weeks, points are a priority to their finals hopes.
While Queensland are odds on to come out on top they’ll have to shuffle their line up with mid-courter Jenny O’Connor out injured and shooter Janelle Lawson remains in doubt with a calf tear.
TAB Sportsbet: Firebirds $1.07, Tactix $7
Tip: Firebirds by 12.
MONDAY
NORTHERN MYSTICS v SOUTHERN STEEL at North Shore Events Centre, Auckland at 5pm.
Last met: Round five, Mystics 50-48
The Steel started the season slowly but has found form and gathered momentum in the recent weeks.
They pulled off their best win of the season in round 10, pipping the Vixens by one goal and backed it up with a convincing win over the Fever.
The Mystics have suffered two one-goal defeats in a row, but they look in ominous form.
This match could go either way but if Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti gets good service from Liana Barrett-Chase and Jenny-May Coffin, the Mystics could be in trouble.
The battle between Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu and Steel defender Megan Hutton will be an exciting match-up.
TAB Sportsbet: Mystics $1.75, Steel $2
Tip: Steel by 2.
NSW SWIFTS v ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre at 7pm.
Last met: Round eight, Swifts 50-44.
Both the Swifts and Thunderbirds come into this match in blistering form and really it’s anyone’s game.
The Swifts are full of confidence and will still be on a high after last week’s one-goal win over the dangerous Firebirds.
Adelaide have also found top gear, winning their last three games and they are yet to lose an away game.
In what shapes to be the most exciting match of the round, the outcome will also have a huge bearing on the final places in the top four, with the Thunderbirds, Vixens and Swifts all tied on 14 points behind the Magic on 16.
The match-ups of Mo’onia Gerrard v Kimberlee Green and Natalie von Bertouch v Selina Gilsenan will be showstoppers.
TAB Sportsbet: Swifts $1.65, Thunderbirds $2.15
Tip: Swifts by 3.