Netball: Sting beat Diamonds 52-43

By JULIE ASH

Despite a nine-goal loss to the Sting the Diamonds showed they have the goods to secure a top four spot in the national league.

Missed opportunities was the difference between winning and losing for the Diamonds who let the Sting get away with a 52-43 win in front of 4,000 vocal spectators at Stadium Southland today in the third round of the National Bank Cup.

With a game in hand the win moves the Southern Sting into third place on the table, behind North Harbour's Force who annihilated the Western Flyers 76-31 and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic who beat the Otago Rebels 46-42.

In the surprise result of the round - Wellington's Capital Shakers beat the Canterbury Flames 57-50. The Cometz had the bye.

In the deep south the Sting made the better start and soon found themselves 6-1 up.

The Diamonds soon recovered with Avondale College goal defence Rachel Rasmussen not afraid to give Silver Fern goal attack Donna Loffhagen a run for her money.

But at the other end of the court Sting captain Bernice Mene showed she is still one of the best defenders in the game picking up some valuable ball which her team converted - something the Diamonds weren't always able to do.

The Sting lead 14-10 at the first break and extended their lead to 27-19 at half time.

The home side moved Adine Harper from wing attack to centre in place of Reinga Bloxham and brought Kate Newson on at wing attack at the break.

The only change to the Diamonds was the introduction of Moana Clarke at wing defence in place of Kimberley Horton - a switch which occurred two more times in the game.

But soon after half time the Sting lost shooter Tania Dalton who had been feeling unwell all week.

She was replaced by Debbie Munro who slotted in well.

The third quarter was all one traffic - the Diamonds way.

Diamonds centre Anna Rowberry sent balls flying down the court faster than speeding bullets which when connected were brilliant but when missed were a waste of much needed ball.

The Diamonds won the quarter 14-9 but trailed 33-36.

The Diamonds came within two of the Sting in the final quarter but often struggled to get the ball into their shooters past the tight defence of Lesley Nicol at wing defence and Harper.

The Diamonds had their chances late in the game but through missed opportunities handed the Sting their second win of the competition.

Diamonds co-captain Kiri Adams said her side lost the game themselves.

"It is disappointing and it is just personal errors again which seem to be the problem.

"We are making less and less errors but if you make just one error against a team like the Sting they punish you for it."

The Diamonds next encounter is against the Force where their main worry will be 1.94m tall goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti.

"Daneka is going to be a handful, I hate to say it we'll have to work out a strategy to deal with her," Adams said.

Force coach Maria Lynch couldn't have been happier with her side's win over the Flyers and said the game allowed her to try out some different combinations.

"The poor Flyers probably felt quite demoralised," she said.

"The skill level from the first whistle just blew them off the court," she said.

However Lynch was quick to dismiss suggestions that her side was a top four shoo in.

"We have only played three games. We are not getting carried away we still have the Sting, Diamonds and Magic to come.' she said.