Netball: Title within Sting's grasp

By JULIE ASH

The Southern Sting are step closer to claiming their fifth consecutive national league title after a 56-43 win over the Otago Rebels tonight.

In front of 4000 vocal Southland supporters, the Sting won the semifinal clash and advanced to the final where they will meet the winners of Sunday's match between North Harbour's Force and the Bay of Plenty/Waikato Magic at the North Shore Events Centre.

Having lost to the Rebels in the round-robin competition, the Sting were out to make amends and took control of the match early on.

It was goal for goal until midway through the first quarter when the Sting gained the advantage after capitalising on several Rebels' mistakes.

Sting wing attack Adine Harper connected well with her shooters, Tania Dalton and Donna Loffhagen, despite plenty of pressure from the Rebels' long-limbed defenders Stephanie Bond and Anna Scarlett.

Down 15-9 at the first break, Rebels coach Lois Muir opted to switch her defensive lineup, moving Scarlett out to goal defence to mark Loffhagen, and Bond from goal defence back to goal keep.

But the Rebels problem was not their defence but their attack, and shooting in particular.

Sting centre Lesley Nicol and wing defence Wendy Telfer did a tremendous job of keeping their opponents away from the edge of the circle, while in the circle Jenny Ferguson and Megan Hutton had the better of Rebels shooters Angela Mitchell and Katie Ritchie, who both struggled.

Midway through the second quarter the Sting extended their lead to 10 points. They maintained that advantage until halftime, when they led 30-20.

While Muir sent all of her bench players to warm up during the second quarter, she made just two changes at halftime.

Phillipa Duncan came on at wing defence and Debbie White moved from wing defence into centre, replacing Megan Parke who went to the bench.

The Sting's run was upset early in the third quarter with a series of injuries. Loffhagen injured a finger and Harper received a blow to the head. Both, however played on.

The Rebels' collapse continued in the third quarter through misdirected passes and missed shots, which allowed the Robyn Broughton- coached Sting to further extend their lead.

Up 41-29 at the end of the third quarter, the Sting won the last quarter 15-14 to take the match 56-43.

Sting captain Nicol described the match as physical.

"It was pretty tough out there. I think Wendy [Telfer] had a great game in the last half and Jenny [Ferguson] and Megan [Hutton] also combined well. We are really excited to have made it to the final."