The Lion Foundation Netball Champs - Day Four

The Lion Foundation Netball Champs - Day Four

2 October 2014

North Harbour and Christchurch will square off in the grand final of the Lion Foundation Netball Champs at The Trusts Arena in Henderson tomorrow.

It will be the first time the two sides have met at this tournament, and neither side has been beaten – in pool play or play-off encounters - this week.

North Harbour earned their place in the final with a controlled 61-48 semi-final victory over Wellington in front of a building crowd today.

The two teams were neck-and-neck for much of the first half, until Wellington’s tall goal shoot Ellie Bird left the court and North Harbour took full advantage of the change in the capital team’s rhythm. Harbour defender Isarena Chan was in blinding form, snaffling ball after ball intended for the Wellington shooters.

At the opposite end, shooter Malia Paseka continued to bolster the Harbour attack, well supported by goal attack Julie Kelman-Poto.

Christchurch were too slick for Hamilton in today’s other semi-final, winning 54-45.

Both teams had played clean, flowing netball coming into the crucial clash. But it was the experienced heads in the Christchurch side who kept their cool and scored from their hard-won possession, thanks to the sure hands of former Silver Fern triallist Julianna Naoupu. A lack of confidence in the Hamilton attack, under pressure from Christchurch defender Jane Watson, proved costly.

In the play-offs for fifth to eighth, Kapi Mana continued to impress with a 58-44 win over a much-improved Auckland, but were dealt a cruel blow with a serious knee injury to wing attack Samantha Lewis. Last year’s champions Dunedin suffered a 59-51 defeat at the hands of a determined Waitakere side.

Day Four Results
ROUND 1
Counties Manukau defeated Taranaki 76-48

ROUND 2
Hutt Valley defeated Eastern Waikato 35-31
Bay of Plenty defeated Thames Valley 52-49

ROUND 3
Waitakere defeated Dunedin 59-51

ROUND 4
North Harbour defeated Wellington 61-48
Kapi Mana 58 defeated Auckland 44

ROUND 5
Christchurch defeated Hamilton 54-45

ROUND 6
Hutt Valley defeated Counties Manukau 49-39
Bay of Plenty defeated East Waikato 59-35

-Ends-

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