By JULIE ASH
Netball North know they will have to contend with an entourage of cowbells when they line up against home-town favourites Waikato tonight in the NPC final.
Netball North beat a determined Canterbury side 59-53 and Waikato trounced Auckland Waitakere 63-37 in last night's semifinals.
After a shaky start to the tournament Waikato appear to have timed their run to the final perfectly.
"How big would it be if we could get up and win the final at home?" Waikato coach Nicole Dryden said.
With Linda Vagana back in the mix Netball North had plenty of fire power on defence against Canterbury. They led 14-13 after the first quarter and extended that to 31-25 at halftime.
The lead was trimmed to five going into the last quarter, then Canterbury got to within three goals, but through some impressive Vagana defence and some untimely Canterbury errors, Netball North were able to escape.
"Our play was very hesitant ... they played hard, but at times we made it hard for ourselves.
"The options were there, we should have just let the ball go," Netball North coach Yvonne Willering said.
Although they beat them 61-46 in round-robin play, Willering said her side were well aware of the impact that Jenny-May Coffin and Amigene Metcalfe have had on the Waikato side since their return from injury.
And as for dealing with that rowdy Mooloo lot?
"Isn't it great to have a North Island final for a change. At least you can't say all the strength is in the south any more."
Having lost to Auckland 53-47 in the round-robin, Waikato raced out to a handy 14-9 lead in the first quarter of their semifinal, and never looked back.
They flew out to a 10-goal lead in the second quarter and went into the halftime break 28-20 ahead.
Auckland made several changes at the break which initially made little difference.
They found some form midway through the quarter and came back to within five, but their run was shortlived.
The Waikato side powered out to a 45-29 lead at the three-quarter break before winning comfortably.
Netball: Cowbells get the dust-off
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