By Suzanne McFadden
They lost every game until yesterday, yet Auckland have waltzed into the semifinals of the national netball championships in Palmerston North.
But it should have been no surprise to anyone that the Aucklanders - sporting one of the classiest line-ups at the tournament - finally pulled one off when it seriously counted yesterday.
The draw for these championships have come under fire all week, but yesterday its critics exploded.
It could have been argued that luck was against the Aucklanders all week - literally losing all of their pool games by one or two goals in the dying seconds.
This year's new system virtually allowed Auckland a second chance, playing homeside Manawatu, who finished second in their pool, in a sudden-death play-off for a semifinal berth.
Auckland never looked like losing the game. They were well ahead by the end of the first quarter - thanks of some old midcourt magic between Nicky Read and Megan Dalgety - and carried on to stub out an intimidated Manawatu 58-47.
Tonight the Aucklanders have another crack at Manukau, the side who controversially tipped them out by one goal in the final five seconds on Wednesday.
Last year's champions Otago, drained by the absence of their five Silver Ferns, have scrambled into the semis to meet pre-championship favourites, Waikato.
Out of contention are Southland, who finished third last year, the young North Harbour, and the hapless Wellington who have been cursed by bad luck and tragedy throughout the tournament.
In their game against Waikato yesterday, Wellington stayed in the hunt until the third quarter, when they lost towering teenage shooter Jodi Te Huna, who whacked her head on the floor after a collision with the Waikato defence.
Wellington already had former Silver Fern defender Sheryl Clarke out of action with an ankle injury, and were still coming to terms with the death of Leilani Read.
Waikato, though, must shape up as the favourites for the title. Their 68-42 win yesterday was spurred by the outstanding defence of Koren Pickard.
Manukau are also unbeaten in this tournament, but it looked like a close thing at halftime against North Harbour last night, when they were only one goal up.
But they changed the pace of the game in the second half, bringing on their formidable shooting partnership of Janine Topia and Karen Wilson.
Canterbury are clear favourites to move back into the first grade where they belong, after crushing all of their opponents in the second division.
Play-offs:
First grade: Waikato 68 Wellington 42, Auckland 58 Manawatu 47, Otago 62 Southland 54, Manukau City 65 North Harbour 49. Today's semifinals: Otago v Waikato, Manukau v Auckland.
Second grade: Hutt Valley 78 Auckland Majors 58, Taranaki 72 Counties 54, Wanganui 64 Waikato Premier 59, Canterbury 75 Marlborough 26. Semifinals: Wanganui v Hutt Valley, Canterbury v Taranaki.
Third grade: Bay of Plenty 56 Northland 37, Waikato Seniors 55 Nelson Bays 46, Eastern 53 Manawatu Invitation 37, Canterbury Country 62 South Canterbury 50. Semifinals: Eastern v Bay of Plenty, Canterbury Country v Waikato Seniors.
Netball: Auckland make most of disputed draw
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