Tight tussle on Beko Netball League ladder

2016 Beko Netball League - Round 5 Preview

Thursday 5 May, 2016

Round 5 Fixture
Netball Northern v Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty
2:30pm, Sunday 8 May
Auckland Netball Centre, Auckland

Netball Mainland v Netball Central
2:30pm, Sunday 8 May
Lincoln Event Centre, Christchurch

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Tight tussle on Beko Netball League ladder

Consistency has been a key factor missing from all five teams competing in the new Beko Netball League with mixed results being posted in a tight competition.

South sit top of the ladder with nine points from three matches –as the competition nears the mid-way mark – but have the bye-round this weekend giving second-placed Waikato Bay of Plenty (WBOP), who have eight points, the chance to sit atop with their match-up against Northern at the Auckland Netball Centre on Sunday.

Third-placed Central (six points) put on one of the most complete performances of the league so far when they beat Northern by 11 goals last week. They travel to Christchurch this weekend to meet the bottom placed Mainland (four points from two games) at the Lincoln Event Centre.

Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie must be tempted to again plump for Jermaine Howard-Vallance in the shooting circle who made an immediate impact for Central when taking the court in the second quarter.

Her height, aerial ability and accuracy in the circle helped swing the game in Central’s favour and provided the spark needed across court to subdue a confident Northern unit.

Central impressed in the second and third stanzas with their defence in and around the circle – an area Mainland will be wary of with an inexperienced shooting line.

Wing attack Tori Harding will be pivotal in her role up front against Central’s Renee Te Riini who proved a nuisance on defence around the circle with nine deflections and one intercept.

Meanwhile, Northern will aim to add to their one win of the season when they host WBOP – both teams coming off Round 4 defeats.

Northern continue to excite up front with flair but have been guilty of turning over too much ball when the pressure mounts. Centre Grace Kukutai showed patience on attack with 19 feeds into the circle and no turnovers.

WBOP will be after maximum points and looking forward to a bye round having played three successive weekends.

The Beko Netball League Grand Final will be played at The Trusts Arena in Auckland on June 26where the top two teams will meet after a double round-robin.

Useful Links
FOLLOW: Draw and Results (including Match Centre)
FOLLOW: Points Table
READ: Team Lists
WATCH: Beko Netball League Highlights
ENDS.

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