Auckland Waitakere issued a warning to their title rivals by thumping Southland 65-39 at the national netball championships in Dunedin last night.
The clash in the midcourt between Victoria Edward and Anna Rowberry and Lesley Rumball and Adine Wilson was a clear points victory to the northern duo.
Auckland Waitakere had too much speed for Southland and moved the ball up court with ease.
Both Shelley Norris and Jodi Te Huna shot well, with Norris successful with 23 of her 27 attempts and Te Huna with 27 from 34.
Tania Dalton and Jade Topia were had off nights in comparison.
In the other big match, Canterbury beat Otago 37-36.
Neither side gained an advantage throughout the match, but a crucial intercept by Bessie Manu with less than two minutes remaining sealed Canterbury's victory.
Former international Belinda Colling shot at 76 per cent in her first big comeback match, including the vital final shot to give her side the win.
Waikato brought their A game out for the second quarter against Eastern, dominating the opposition 26-7 during this period before winning 68-36.
Irene van Dyk notched 37 goals from 39 attempts before taking a break and giving Hayley Stockman some court time.
The promising shooter provided no respite for the Eastern defence, scoring nine of her 10 attempts.
For Eastern, Julie Kelman-Poto scored from 20 of her 29 attempts.
Wellington needed to beat Western to make the top six but instead went down 49-53.
Western took advantage of their extra height at both ends of the court and, with veteran Jenny May Coffin providing the link, they led 30-20 at halftime.
Wellington lifted in the third quarter, outscoring Western 19-9 to tie the match at 39-39 with 15 minutes left before Western finished the stronger.
In the A grade, North beat Counties Manukau 66-17.
North's Catherine Latu scored 22 goals from 28 attempts before she was replaced by Daneka Wipiiti in the third quarter. Wipiiti landed 21 of her 31 attempts.
- NZPA
Netball: Auckland Waitakere on form
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