Netball: Cometz look for a high-flying year

The Cometz netball coach, Ruth Aitken, has her fingers crossed that this will be the year her franchise take their development one step further with a Coca-Cola Cup playoff spot next month.

The Counties Manukau-based setup, still awaiting their first appearance in the semifinals, are handily placed at fifth on the table, two points off the fourth-placed Western Flyers going into a critical double-header weekend.

But the Cometz have a bye to come, so points from their matches against the Rebels tonight at Allan Brewster Stadium and the high-flying Force at North Shore Events Centre this Sunday are imperative with just three rounds to follow.

"It really is a make or break weekend and two wins would be great," she said. "You never write teams off, but it is pivotal."

The chances of double success are slim, with the North Shore-based Force still unbeaten after four matches, and setting the pace along with defending champions the Sting.

But unlike some of the other teams, the Cometz don't have the luxury of leaning on the big names to pull them through.

"Other teams have been lucky enough to have the starry names, but we've had to have a full team effort. We couldn't accept any average performances.

"They've been a delight to work with. There's no ego, they know they've got a job to do and have really worked hard," she added.

Auckland's Diamonds have an awkward South Island double-header this weekend with the Sting and the Flames, and unless they find form smartly, their season could effectively be over by Sunday.

Tonight's round: Shakers v Force, Wellington; Sting v Diamonds, Invercargill; Cometz v Rebels, Papatoetoe, Flyers v Flames, New Plymouth.

Sunday's round: Force v Cometz, North Shore; Flames v Diamonds, Christchurch; Magic v Rebels, Tauranga, Flyers v Shakers, New Plymouth.