Netball: Cometz withstand fiery Force

By Sarah Nealon

The CMTV Cometz had an outstanding game in the third round of the national netball last night, beating the Northern Force 50-45.

So did the Otago Rebels who continued their winning streak by thrashing the Capital Shakers 63-51 at the Queen's Wharf Events Centre in Wellington.

Rebels' goal-shoot Jo Steed had an impressive game, as did Anna Rowberry at wing attack. The Rebels were in total control throughout the game, despite several on-court changes made by coach Georgina Salter.

In Tauranga the Southern Sting triumphed over the Magic with a 10-goal win of 56-46. Leading by less than five goals in the first three quarters, the Southern Sting pulled away in the last spell to blitz the Waikato-Bay of Plenty team.

Back from New Zealand basketball commitments, goal shoot Donna Loffhagen was the stand-out player for the Sting. The double international shot 39 goals from 47 attempts.

At the North Shore Events Centre in Glenfield there was superb mid-court action from Cometz captain Temepara George at centre and Renee Jacobsen at goal attack.

After the first quarter the Cometz trailled the Force by two points but were leading 28-22 at halftime.

Sensible halftime changes by Force coach Alison Wieringa saw Jenny-May Coffin shift from wing attack to centre and Linda Vagana replace Lorna Suafoa at goal keep.

The patchy play in the Force goal circle which dominated the first half of the match was replaced by sharp, careful passes to shooters Teresa Tairi and Elizabeth Dean.

In front of a roaring home crowd the Force came from behind in the last five minutes of the third spell to even the score at 37-all.

Unfortunately for the Force, Cometz goal shoot Janine Topia, despite a bandaged knee, was in total command under the hoop in the final quarter.

In the fourth game in Christchurch the Canterbury Flames led three-quarters of the match but fell away in the last spell to lose to the Western Flyers 59-53.

Daneka Wipiiti, the towering goal shoot for the Flyers, put on a stunning performance in the last 15 minutes. Flames' defenders Belinda Blair and Anna Vernonese couldn't stop her long arms putting goal after goal into the hoop.